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I  THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY, 
Princeton,  N.  J. 


<^^^ 


>3  3'^' — --''3 


,^^a!F^3^ 


I 


Case;    Division 


^''•^V»    Section. /tSu:3.i^ 


Booh-, 


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■    DISCOURSES 


ON     run 


SIGNS  OF  THE  TIMES- 


By  PFILLIAM  LINN,  D.  D. 

One   of    the    Ministers    of    the    reformed    Dutcji 
Church,    in    the    City   of   New-York. 


NEW -YORK— PRINTED    BY  THOMAS  GREENLEAF. 

the  COPr  right  5EC\:red. 

1794. 


Ji  HE  following  Difcourfes  zcerebegun  in  the 
Aloiit/i  of  April  lajl,  Several  Circumjtances 
have  concurred  to  prevent  their  Appearance  be- 
fore now.  They  treat  ofSubjeds  not  vfualin 
the  Pulpit,  and  the  Formof  Effays  would  rather 
have  been  chofeny  had  Leifure  admitted.  They 
have  been  corrected  in  a  few  Places  fmce  they 
zoere  delivered,  and  the  whole  of  the  Notes  have 
been  added^ 

The  Author  never  defpaired  of  the  Succefs 
oj  the  French  Revolution  ;  and  the  Eventswhich 
have  taken  Place  during  the  S'mnmer,  cenfirnif 
him  in  the  Opinion  that  civil  Liberty  will  urn- 
verfally  prevail,  and  that  God  isprepa/ring  the 
Way  for  the  Introdu[lion*  of  a  glorious  Scene 
upon  Earth.     No  political  Sentiments  are  ad.- 


iv  PREFACE. 

vanced  except  thofe  xohich  feemed  to  be  inti- 
mately  connefied  with  the  Profperity  of  the 
Church.  Chrijlians,  asfuch,  ought  not  to  in- 
terfere icith  civil  Governrtient ;  and  civil  Go- 
vcrnment  ought  not  to  interfere  with  them, 
farther  than  to  afford  general  ProteElion,  The 
Church  and  the  State  wiUflourifi  beflivhen  both 
attend  wholly  to  their  peculiar  Concerns. 

The  Author  s  principal  Viezo  is  to  call  the 
Attention  of  proJep^ingChriftians  in  thisCoun-^ 
try  to  the  Situation  in  zohich  Providence  hath 
placed  them;  to  urge  them  to  correal  former 
Mi/lakes,  to  lay  afde  old  Pnjiidices,  to  remove 
Stuvibling-^blocks  out  of  the  Way  of  Infidelsy 
and  to  unite  in  the  Bonds  of  Love. 

New- York,  September  26,  1794, 


Dl'^Si^^TRSE   I. 

SIGNS   OF   THE   TIMES. 


=^5^= 


MATTHEW    xvk  3. 

-Can  ye  not  discern  the  Sicns   of  tha 
Times  ? 


JL  HESE,  [Were  the  words  of  Jefus  Chrift 

to  the  Pharifees  and  Sadducees,  when  they 

afked  him  for  a  Jign  from  Heoxen.     We 

find,  that  the  Jews  frequently  fought  this 

from  him'^,  and  they  referred  either  to  fome 

particuUr   fign  which   they   expefted  the 

Meffiah   would  give,    or  to  fome  greater 

miracle  than  what  he  had  yet  performed. 

Our  Lord,  inftead  of  gratifying  their  curi- 

A 


t6  S    I    G    N    S      b? 

of.ty,  {howed  them^  that  they  had  fufficient 
evidence  of '  his  divine  miffion,  and  that  if 
they  were  as  attentive  and  honeil  in  obferv- 
ing  this,  -as  they  were  -in  obferving  the  figns 
in  nature,  they  could  not  fail  of  a  jull  con- 
clufion.  When  it  is  evening,  ye  fay,  It  zviU 
be  Jair  weather  ;  J  or  the  Jky  is  red  :  And  in 
the  morning,  It  cvill  be  foul  iveather  to-day  ; 
for  the  fay  is  red  and  loioring,  0  ye  hypo- 
crites !  ye  can  difoern  thefoce  oj  the  Jky  ;  but 
can  ye  not  difoern  the  Jigns  of  the  times  ?  If 
as  though  he  had  faid,  certain  figns  in  the 
Heaven  foretel  the  ftate  of  the  weather,  and 
you  carefully  remark  them  ;  why  can  you 
not  difcern,  by  the  figns  which  now  appear, 
who  I  am,  and  what  are  the  prefent  times  ? 
Does  not  your  negligence  betray  your  un- 
belief and  hypocrify  ?  Are  not  the  prophe- 
cies fulfilled  in  me  ?  Is  not  my  doarine  di- 
vine ?  Do  not  my  works  witnefs  for  me,  the 
very  works  which  it  was  foretold  that  the 
Mefiiah  fliould  perform  ? 

The  requeft  of  the  Pharifees  and  Saddu-,, 
cces  being  unreafonable,  and  made  with  an 


THE     T     I     M     E     S.  Y 

Gvil  intention,  our  Lord  feverely  reproved 
them,  and  directed  them  to  attend  to  the 
figns  which  were  plainly  to  be  feen.  I  pur- 
pofe,  my  brethren,  to  difcufs  the  words  with 
a  peculiar  regard  to  the  day  in  which  we 
now  live,  and  to  inquire,  what  are  the  figns 
of  thefe  times.  The  difcourfe  is  intended  as 
introduftory  to  fome  others. 

Every  perfon  who  reflefts  at  all,  muft 
fte,  that  the  moft  extraordinary  events  are 
taking  place,  and  is  naturally  led  to  think 
on  their  connexion  and  eonfequence.  He 
who  believes  in  a  divine  revelation,  ponders 
in  his  own  mind,  whether  fome  of  the  pro- 
phecies are  not  now  fulfilling,  and  the  way 
preparing  for  the  general  fpread  and  fuccefs 
of  the  everlafting  gofpel.  That  this  is,  in^ 
deed,  the  cafe,  he  cannot  doubt,  in  however 
great  darknefs  the  time  and  the  manner  may 
be  involved.  Before  I  mention  the  figns*, 
and  what  they  manifefl:  at  this  day,  let  me 
make  a  few  obfervations  concerning  the  na- 
ture and  interpretation  of  the  prophecies; 


S  SIGNS 


OF 


1.  The  fulfilment  of  the  prophecies  fe 
one  of  the  ftrongeft  proofs  of  a  divine  reve-^ 
lation.  If  it  can  be  {hown,  thatevents  have 
been  foretold,  and  particularly  defcribed  in 
Scripture,  many  ages  before  they  came  to 
pafs,  it  is  an  irrefiltible  proof  of  the  truth 
of  the  Scripture  ;  for  only  God  could  have 
forefeen  thefe  events.,  and  they  muft  have 
been  predifted  by  men  infpired-of  him. 
The  friends  of  revelation  cannot  more  effec- 
tually eftdbiifh  its  authority,  than  by  giving 
a  hiftory  of  the  prophecies,  together  with 
the  events  in  which  they  have  been  fulfilled. 
This  has  been  done  by  biihop  Newton,  in 
his  excellent  dilfertations.  So  well  are  infi- 
dels aware  of  this,  that  it  has  been  alledged^ 
that  the  prophecies  were  written  after  the 
events  ;  afuppofition  difcovering  ignorance 
and  malice,  and  which  events  yet  to  come 
wilt  put  to  eternal  fliame.  The  evidence 
from  prophecy  is  continually  increafing,  and 
will  at  laft  overpower,  with  its  luftre,  all 
oppofition. 


THE     T    I    M    E    S:  g 

2.  It  is  not  neceffary  that  the  prophecies 
be  minutely  underftood  until  they  be  ful- 
filled. It  is  enough  that  events  have  been 
foretold ;  and  it  aafwers  every  purpofe  for 
confirming  revelation.though  we  be  unable, 
in  the  mean  time^  to  interpret  them  fo  ac- 
curately, and  apply  them  fo  certainly,  as  to 
remove  every  difficulty,  and  elucidate  every 
circumflance.  At  the  completion, thefe  will 
appear  clearly,and  perhaps  men  will  w^onder,, 
how  they  fhould  have  fa  much  mifappre- 
hended  them.  There  is,  indeed,  a  divine 
wifdom  in  concealing  part,  as  the  agents 
thus  aft  freely,  and  are  often  found,  con- 
trary to  their  defigns,taaccomplifhthe  will 
of  God. 

Wh&ne  VER,  therefore,  we  are  not  guid- 
ed by  plain  Scripture,  we  do  no  more  than 
conjefture.  Our  bufinefs  is  not  to  prophe- 
cy, but  modeflly  to  interpret  what  is  obvi- 
oufly  revealed.  How  many  learned  and 
pious  men  have  framed  interpretations 
which  time  has  fliown  to  be  entirely  erro- 
neous !  Some  have  dated  the  fall  of  Anti- 


20  S    I    G    N    S    OP 

thrift  fo  far  back,  that  the  period  is  elapfed ;, 
and  others  carry  it  fo  far  forward,  that  none 
of  us  fhall  live  to  fee  it.  We  are  fure  that 
the  firft  were  miflaken,  and  time  muftprove 
or  difprove  the  opinion  of  the  laft. 

3.  Th  ough  a  prophecy  may  not  be  fully 
underftood  until  the  event  come,  yet  the^ 
nearer  we  approach  to  the  event,  the  more 
will  the  prophecy  be  unfolded.  Former 
miftakes  are  correfted,  new  fcenes  arife,  new 
wheels  in  the  great  wheel  of  Providence  are 
moved  ;  and  though  we  cannot,  with  cer- 
tainty, fay  v/hich  will  move  next,  yet  we 
fee  more  than  thofe  who  lived  before  us. 
We  profit  by  their  light,  and  even  by  their 
errors,  and  v/e  gain  an  additional  light. 
None  of  them  forefaw  the  revolutions  which 
have  been  in  our  day  ;  at  leaft,  they  could 
have  little  notion  of  the  way  in  which  God 
would  effe6l  his  glorious  defigns.  This 
leads  me  to  point  out  the  figns  of  the  pre^ 
fent  times. 


^HE     T    I    M    E    S. 


11 


There  are  two  remarkable  ones,of  which 
I  ihall  take  notice,  together  with  their  pro- 
bable fignification,  and  the  duties  to  which 
they  call  us  as  men,  and  as  profeffing  Chrif- 
tians. 

L  The  prevalence  of  a  fenfe  of  civil  Li- 
berty. We  have  feen  one  of  the  moft  pow* 
erful  nations  in  the  world,  which,  a  few 
years  ago,  was  under  an  abfolute  govern- 
ment, and  loved  her  flavery,  rife,  and,  with 
an  energy  unknown  before,  break  off  her 
inglorious  chains.  The  monarch  whom 
Ihe  adored  has  been  humbled  in  the  dufl, 
and  fhe  elevates  her  view  to  a  government 
free  in  its  princij)les,  and  equal  in  its  ope* 
ration. . 

It  is  true,  that  in  this  revolution  there 
have  been  afts  (hocking  to  the  feelings  of 
human  nature,  which  the  enemies  of  liberty 
have  aggravated,  and  endeavored  to  turn  to 
its  difadvantage.  Thefe  were  to  be  expeci- 
ed  from  the  former  flate  of  the  nation,  from 
the  treacherous  oppofition  within, and  from 


r 

1^  S    I    G    N    S    o^ 

the  cruel  oppofition  of  tyrants  Vvithouto 
They  are  to  be  fincerely  regretted,  but  are 
neither  juft  arguments  againft  the  goodnefs 
of  the  caufe,  nor  evidences  that  order  and 
freedom  v/ill  not^  in  time,  be  ellablifhed. 
To  rehearfe,  in  mournful  accents,  the  fcenes 
of  diftrefs  exhibited  now  in  France,  and  to 
have  no  tears  to  (hed  for  the  former  mifery 
of  the  nation,  and  the  rueful  deeds  of  ty- 
ranny throughout  the  world,  betrays  a  mind 
extremely  difingenuous  andbafe.  The  llvy 
is  red  and  lowring,  but  the  fun  will  foon 
look  forth,and  fair  weather  fucceed  the  foul. 
After  the  concuffion  of  the  elements,  the  air 
will  become  more  pure,  ferene,  and  balmy. 

Is  not  the  prevalence  of  civil  Liberty  a 

fign,  that  this  is  neceffary,  in  order  to  the 

reign  of   righteoufnefs  and  peace  ?   Where 

is  the  nation  which  loft  its  civil,  and  preferv- 

ed  its  religious  liberty  ?  Does  riot  the  one 

always  rife  or  fall  with  the  other  ?  Has  not 

the  power  which  kings  have  enjoyed,  occa- 

.  fioned  continual  lealoufies  and  wars  on  the 
1 . . ..      , .  . '.'  ; V  '•. 

earth  ?  Has  not  their  ambition,  avarice,  or 


THE       T      I      M      E      S;  13 

luxury  rendered  them  oppreflTive  to  their 
fubjefts,  and  dangerous  to  their  neighbcirs? 
It  would  feem,  then,  that  the  rights  of  man 
muft  be  afferted  as  preparing  the  way  for 
the  pure  and  peaceful  religion  of  Chrift. 

Hitherto  Liberty  has  in  general  been 
fuppreffed  by  tyrants,  and  confined  to  fmall 
corners  of  the  earth  ;  but  now  the  fpreading : 
flame  baffles  their  utmoft  efforts.  The  re-' 
volution  in  France  has  produced  a  combi- 
nation the  moll  bold,  wicked,  and  foolilh, 
that  ever  exifted  in  the  world ;  bold,  becaufe 
it  oppofes  itfelf  to  a  nation  fo  determined  in 
principle,  and  fo  abundant  in  refource  ; 
wicked,  becaufe  it  intermeddles  in  another's 
affairs,  and  is  a  war  againft  Liberty  ;  and 
foolifli,  becaufe  it  muft  be  unfuccefsful,  dif- 
grac^ful,  and  ruinous.  The  only  appear- 
ance that  France  might  fail  in  eftablifhing 
her  Liberty,  arofe  from  internal  divifions 
and  commotions  ;  but  the  combination  of 
foreign  powers  has  given  her  ftrength  and 

B 


14  S    I     G    N    S    OF 

vigour.     External  prefTure  has  made  her  in- 
ternal union  the  more  firm. 

Who  fliall  flop  the  current  of  the  tide  ? 
Who  (hall  fay  to  the  waves  of  the  fea,  peace, 
be  ftill  ?  And  yet  they  may  as  foon  effeft 
thefe.as  quench  the  fire  of  enthufiafm  which 
glows  in  the  breads  of  more  than  twenty 
millions.  Nor  is  this  all.  The  very  attempt 
will  haften  their  own  downfall,  and  make 
it  the  more  terrible.  As  a  huge  flone  caft 
into  water  violently  agitates  it,  and  fuccef- 
five  circles  touch  the  farthefl  fliore,  fo  the 
convulfion  in  France  will  (hake  all  nations ; 
revolution  will,  probably,  follow  revoluti- 
on, until  all  be  regenerated;  until  all  learn, 
that  government  was  inltituted,  not  for  the 
aggrandizement  of  a  few,  but  for  the  ge- 
neral benefit  ;  and  until  they  know;  that 
the  vic^fl  High  rulcth  in  the  kingdom  of  men, 
and  giveth  it  to  xohomfoever  he  mil. 

To  advance*  thefe  fentiments  would,  in 
fome  countries,  coft  me  my  liberty,  or  my 


THE     T    I    M    E     S.  15 

life.  Happily,  in  this  country,  we  can  think 
and  a6l  for  ourfelves.  We  fmile  at  tyrants, 
and  defy  their  rage. 

You  will  not,  my  brethren,  judge  what 
is  now  faid  to  be  improper,  when  you  con- 
fider  the  infeparable  conneftion  between 
civil  and  religious  Liberty,  and  that  the 
prevalence  of  the  one  is  a  fign  of  the  intro- 
duftion  of  the  other  ;  a  fign  which  you  are 
called  at  this  day  to  difcern.  Behold  Li- 
berty firft  fecured  in  America !  Behold  next 
the  mighty  ftruggles  of  France  !  and  fay, 
whether  thefe  are  not  figns,  that  it  (hall  uni- 
verfally  prevail  ?  The  fign  of  which, 

IL  I  fliall  take  notice,  is  of  an  extraor- 
dinary nature.  It  is  the  fpread  of  deifm,  or 
infidelity.  Though  there  are,  no  doubt, 
many  in  France  who  profefs  the  Chriftian 
religion  in  confiderable  purity,  and  many 
who  flill  adhere  to  the  old  fuperllition,  yet 
there  appears  to  be  a  great  and  open  difa- 
Yowal  of  all  religion  v;hatever.     There  is 


i6  S    I    G    N    S     OF 

not  to  be  found  in  their  public  tranfaclions 
any  acknowledgment  of  a  fuperintending 
Providence.  Not  only  have  they  difcard- 
ed  revelation,  but,  by  the  mofl  certain  ac- 
counts, run  into  downright  atheifm  ;  and, 
in  this  refpeft,  exhibit  a  fpeftacle  never  feen 
before."*  This  is  not  mentioned  as  an  ar- 
gument againfl  thejuftnefs  of  their  original 

*  Since  the  above  was  written,  there  has  been  publifh- 
ed  a  decree  of  the  National  Convention,  May  8,  contain- 
ing the  following  article — **  Article  I.  The  French  peo- 
ple acknowledge  the  exigence  of  a  Supreme  Being,  and 
the   immortality  of  the  foul/'     This  fhows,  that  though 
they  deny  the  Chriftian  religion,  yet  they  are  unwilling 
to  be  reputed   atheifts  ;  and  that  there  is  more  religion 
among  the  people  of  France  than  her  enemies  allow.    The 
fentiments  of  the  people,  and  the  reproaches  of  enem^ies, 
probably  led   the  Convention  to  make  this  declaration. — 
The  decree,  however,  m,ay  be  confidered  as  a  bad  prece- 
dent ;  for  if  government  once  begin  to  interfere  with  re- 
ligious belief,  there  is  no  end.     This  the  French  ought 
not,   on  their    own    principles,  to  do,  and    it  is  hoped, 
that  they  will  not.     All  that  any  government  has  to  do,  is 
to  fecure  and  prote£l  its  citizens,  leaving  every   one,  in 
matters  of  religion,  to  believe  and  a<5t  according  to  the 
li^'ht  of  their  own  minds. 


■the    T    I    M    E     S-  17 

caufe,  or  the  probability  of  its  final  fuccers. 
They  who  would  thus  conitrue  it,  do  not 
confider,  that  God  often  accomplUhes  his 
purpofes  by  his  enemies,  and  in  ways  which 
are  incomprehenfible  by  us. 

Some  conftantly  produce  this  irreligion 
as  a  formidable  objeSion,  who  ar6  little  bet- 
ter themfelves.  If  the  Sadducees  faid  that 
there  was  neither  angel,  nor  refurre^lion,  nor 
fpirit\  the  Pharifees,  under  the  cloak  of 
fanftity,  committed  the  greatefl  villainies. 
When"  we  hear  of  courts  faying  that  their 
religion  is  in  danger,  they  mean  their  hier- 
archies or  ecclefiaftic  eftablifhments  ;  for,  as 
to  the  pure  fpirit  of  Chriftianity,  it  is  feldom 
known  among  them.  The  nation  which 
they  abufe,  are  no  greater  infidels  than 
themfelves,  fave  that  they  wear  no  maflc, 
but  openly  appear  what  they  are.  It  is  re- 
markable that  our  Saviour  pointed  his 
fharpell  reproofs,  and  denounced  his  moft 
terrible  woes  againft  the  Scribes  and  the 
Pharifees  ;   perfons  who  had  corrupted  the 


i8  S    I    G    N    S     OF 

word  of  God  by  their  traditions,  and  rnade 
religion  fubferve  their  worldly  interells*. 

*  It  Is  well-known,  that  fome  who  cry  out  againft  the 
French  for  their  irrellgion,  are  themfelves  avowed  infi- 
dels, or  fcanduloufly  immoral  in  their  lives.  In  Britain 
many  of  the  court  have  been,  and  now  are  deifts,  v/no 
comply  ■^^ith  rites  of  religion  vvhich  they  do  not  believe, 
and  which  tiffey  ridicule.  Peihaps  the  writings  of  Che f- 
terfield  alone,  have  done  more  injwry  to  the  morals  of 
mankind,  than  the  writings  of  Voltaire,  and  all  the  French 
philofopheis. 

Thefe  words  of  an  author,  lately  ban  1  Hied  to  Botany 
Bay,  are  not  more  fevere  than  true  :   "  The    religion    of 

*  fome  men,  like  the  Sodom  apple,   is  fair  without,  but 

*  rotten  at  the  core.      1  he  ftricleft  attention  to  the  cere- 

*  monies  of  religion  is  perfectly  compatible  v>'ith  the 
^  groireit  violation  of  the  duties  of  morality  ;  and  examples 

*  are   not   wanting  among  kings  themfelves,  who   chant 

*  their  morning  orif-ins  to  the  groans  of  their  people,  and 

*  who,  with  pious  profanation,  uplift  thofe  hands  to  the 
'  throne  of  mercy,  which  are  Hill  reeking  with  the  blood 
'  of  their  fubjects.      In  one  fenfe  indeed,  the  war  may  be 

*  truly  cali';d  a  war  of  religion  ;  for  it  refembles  the  Cru- 

*  fades  in  the  madnefs  of  the  principle,  and  in  the  cruelty 
'  of  the  perfecution."     I   know  nothing  of  the  character 

of  this  man  [Gerrald]  but  from  his  being  fent  to  Botany 
Bay  I  fufpeii:  him  lo  be  of  extraordinary  virtue. 


THE     T    I    IvI    E    S.  19 

At  the  fame  time,  my  brethren,  as  we 
would  not  juitify  any  political  exceffes  in 
France,  fo  ftill  lefs  the  daring  impiety.  The 
vain  imaginations  of  infidels  are  to  be  la- 
mented and  pitied.  The  frenzy  cannot  laft 
long.  Scon  as  the  defign  for  which  a  wife 
God  hath  permitted  it,  is  anfwered,  religion 
will  return  in  primitive  purity  and  power. 
The  old  foundation  is  demolilhing,  that  a 
better  may  be  laid.  When  the  zoood,  hay,  and 
^z^<^3/^  which  compofed  the  monflrous  ftruc- 
ture  is  burnt  up,  there  will  appear  in  ge- 
nuine Chriftianity  what  all  the  furnaces  of 
hell  cannot  confume,nor  all  its  fmoketarnifh. 

But,  what  does  this  prevalence  of  infide- 
lity denote?  Is  it  any  fign  to  profeffing 
Chriftians  ?  Is  it  not  a  fign  that  the  Chrif- 
tian  religion  is  loaded  with  corruptions  and 
abufes;  that  thefe  have  prejudiced  men 
againft  it,  and  that  therefore  a  reformation 
is  neceffary  ?  Let  me  mention  briefly  a  few 
things  which  have  greatly  promoted  infide- 
lity, and  by  the  correftion  of  which  infide- 
lity will  be  weakened  and  fall.  They  may 
be  difculfed  more  fully  hereafter. 


20  S    I    G    N    S    OF 

1.  The  want  of  union  among  the  fol- 
lowers of  Chrift.  There  are  fo  many  im- 
proper divifions  and  diilinclions  as  greatly 
to  injure  the  common  caufe.  Inflead  of 
thefe  being  healed,  they  have  *been  en- 
couracred;  inftead  of  mutual  forbearance 
and  charity,  there  have  been  mutual  Jlrife 
and  cenforioufnefs. 

It  has  been  alledged,  that  the  different  de- 
nominations are  of  real  advantage,  by  watch- 
ing over  and  exciting  one  another.  God 
hath  no  doubt,  over-ruled  divifions  for 
good,  but  this  cannot  juftify  them.  We 
may  not  do  evil  that  good  may  come.  Union 
is  inculcated  frequently  and  in  the  ftrongelt 
terms,  by  Chrift  and  his  Apoftles.  We  are 
under  folemn  obligation  to  feek  it ;  and 
until  we  do  fo,  we  do  not  recommend  our 
profeffion,  and  remove  a  great  ftumbling- 
block  out  of  the  way  of  infidels. 

2.  The  additions  v/hich  have  been  made 
to  the  pure  doftrme  and  wof  ftiip  of  Chrift, 
and  the  infifting  upon  a  compliaiiCe  with 


THE       T      I      M      E       S.  21 

them  under  pain  of  excommunication.  This 
Bus  been  peculiarly  the  cafe  in  popifh  coun- 
tries, where  Chriflianity  has  become  a  more 
intolerable  yoke  than  the  ceremonies  of  the 
Jewifli  law.  All  churches,  indeed,  have 
erred  too  much  in  this  refpeft,  and  it  is  a 
natural  confequence  of  their  divifions.  They 
muft  have  fomething  to  diftinguilh  them, 
and  if  they  cannot  find  it  in  the  word  of 
God,  they  will  invent  it.  When  they  unite, 
thefe  things  will  ceafe  ;  for  they  never  can 
unite  on  the  do6lrines  of  men  which  are 
various  and  difcordant;  they  muft  unite  by 
recurring  to  the  lively  oracles  of  God. 

3.  Another  abufe  of  Chriftianity,  and 
a  principal  fource  of  deifm,  is  ecclefiaftical 
eftablifhments  ;  unholy  alKances  between 
the  church  and  the  ftate.  Thefe  have  oc- 
cafioned  infidels  to  fay,  that  religion  w^as 
devifed  by  priefts  and  princes  to  awe  the 
multitude,  and  increafe  their  own  power. 
It  is  certain,  that  wherever  particular  modes 
of  worfhip  are  eftablifhed  by  civil  authority, 

C 


<22  SIGNS         OF 

they  are  little  better  than  engines  of  ftate^ 
and  tend  to  bring  religion  into  contempt. 
They  make  hypocrites,  and  expofe  the  or- 
dinances of  the  gofpel  t(^  the  moll  horrid 
proftitution.  When  religion  is  the  road  to 
worldly  honours  and  emoluments,  many 
will  be  found  to  afilime  the  profeffion,  and 
comply  with  the  prelcribed  rites,  who  are 
unprincipled  in  heart,  and  profligate  in  life. 

At  the  reformation,  though  the  authori- 
ty of  the  Pope  was  rejecled,  yet  ellabliih- 
ments  were  continued  ;  and  thus  a  reforma- 
tion was  made  only  in  part.  In  fome  in- 
fiances,  it  was  only  transferring  the  power 
to  another,  or  giving  the  church  a  new  viii- 
ble  head.*     The  church  needs  nothing  from 


*  '^  The  pnp?.l  power  was  at  leaft  virtually  afTumed  by 
"  the  protellant  princes.  The  deadly  wonnd,  which  the 
*'  beaft  had  received  in  Peter's  chair,  was  healed  op  in  all 
**the  proteftant  thrones." — '*  Finding  their  own  crowns 
<*  confolidated  wiih  the  mitre,  and  placed  on  the  head  of 
*'  the  Reman  pontiff,  they  pulled  both  from  his  brow  at 
•*^  once,  and,    without  giving  tlicmielves  the  trouble  to  fe- 


THE     T    I    M    E    S.  23 

die  flate  but  proteftion,  and  gives,  in  re- 
turn, good  fubjefts,  not  for  wrath,  but  for 
coifcience  fake. 

In  this  country  there  are  ftlU  a  few  advo- 
cates for  ertabhlliments  of  fome  kind  ;  but 
the  moit  rejoice,  that  there  are  none,  and 
that  the  experiment  is  now  making,  whether 
they  have  not  been  unneceffary  and  dan^ 
gerous.  We  beheve  that  religion  will  flouriih 
more  than  ever,  and  that  the  old  ellablifh- 
ments  in  Europe  are  a  great  impediment  to 
its  progrefs,  and  a  part  of  the  anti-chriftian 
fyftem."^ 

'*  ver  the  unfightly  mafs,  they  proceeded  to  plant  it  upon 
'*  their  own  heads."  Graham's  Review  of  Ecclefiaftical 
Eftablifhnients. 

*  This  fentiment  will  be  more  fully  enforced  in  a  fol- 
lowing difcourfe.  It  is  the  fame  which  is  expreffed  in 
thefe  words  of  the  preface  to  the  conftitution  of  the  Re- 
formed Dutch  Church — **  Whether  the  church  of  ChriH 
**  will  not  be  more  effedually  patronized  in  a  civil  go- 
**  vernment,  where  full  freedom  of  confcience  and  wor- 
**  (liip  is  equally  protected  and  infured  to  all  men,  and 
"  where  truth  is  left  to  vindicate  her  own  fovereign  au- 


24  SIGNS      OF 

If  the  things  vt^hichhave  been  mentioned 
are  the  means  of  promoting  and  ftrengthen- 
ing  infidelity  ;  if  they  give  a  falfe  view  of 
Chriftianity,  and  furnifli  with  arguments 
againft  it,  then  it  is  the  duty  of  Chriftians 
to  reftify  thefe  abufes  ;  and  the  prefent  flood 
of  infidelity  is  a  fign,  that  they  fliould  no 
longer  delay  the  good  work.  Reformation 
is  n^ceflary  in  the  church,  as  well  as  in  the 
civil  governments  of  the  world. 

There  is  reafon  to  believe,  from  pro- 
phecy, that  when  France  fliall  have  reco- 
vered her  Liberty,  and  peace  has  returned, 
that  pure  and  undefiled  religion  fliall  pre- 
vail ;  that  when  the  xcinter  is  pajt,  and  the 
rain  is  over  and  gone,  thefuOwersJhaLl  appear 
on  the  earthy  the  time  cj  the  Jinging  of  birds 

**  thcrity  and  influence,  than  where  men  in  power  pro- 
**  mote  their  favorite  denominations  by  temporal  emolu- 
*'  ments  and  partial  difcrimiinations,  will  now,  in  Amieri- 
**  ca,  have  a  fair  trial  ;  and  all  who  know  and  love  the 
**  truth,  will  rejoice  in  the  profpefl  which  fuch  a  happy 
**  fituation  attords  for  the  triumph  of  tlie  gofpcl,  and  the 
^'  reign  of  peace  and  Icve."' 


THE     T    I    M    E    S.  25 

come,  and  the  voice  of  the  turtle  be  heard  in 

the  land.     To  this  purpofe  have  thefe  words 

been  interpreted  ;  And  the  fame  hour  was 

there  a  great  earthquake,  and  the  tenth  part 

of  the  city  fell,  and  in  the  earthquake  were 

flain  of  men  f even  Ihoufand :  and  the  rer/inant 

were  affrighted,  and  gave  glory  to  the  God  of 

heaven.     By  the  eaMhquake  is  underftood  a 

great  commotion  or  revolution  in  nations  ; 

by  the  tenth  part  of  the  city,  is  underftood 

France,  which  was  the  tenth  kingdom  which 

gave  its  power  to  the  beaft  at  Rome ;  by  its 

falling,  is  underftood  its  withdrawing  this 

power,  or  ceafing  to  form  a  part  of  the  city; 

men  fignify  names  of  men,  or  men  of  name  ; 

and  hy  feven  thoufand  being  fain,  is  under- 

ftood  the  abolition  of  names  or  titles,  or  the 

deflruftion  of  thofe  who  bear  them.     This 

interpretation,  made  long  fmce  by  feveral 

learned  and  pious  men,*  is  now  remarka- 

*  See  Goodwin,  Moore,  Jurieu,  Willifon,  Gill,  snd 
others.  Whoever  reads  the  expofition  of  this  part  of  pro- 
phecy by  Goodwin,  written  1639,  and  that  by  Jiirieu, 
written  1687,  will  be  furprized  to  find,  notwithflanding 


2-5  SIGNS 


OF 


biy  verifying  ;  and  why  may  we  not  hope, 
that  the  latter  part  of  the  verfe  refers  to  the 
revival  of  religion  ?  The  reinnant  were  af- 
frighted, and  gave  glory  to  the  God  of  heaven. 

The  conjecture  is  plaufible,  that  the  two 
witneiTes,  M^ho  are  to  be  killed,  and  their 
dead  bodies  to  lie  in  thcfreet  of  the  great  city\ 
is  now  fulfilled,  by  the  contempt  of  all  re- 
gion in  France.     It  is  to  happen  the  fame 

tlieir  miftalies  in  fome  fmall  circumftances,  and  the  peri- 
ods which  they  have  fixed,  how  exaftly  it   is  fulfilling  at 
this  day.     Thefe  words  of  Jurieii,  in  giving  the  charac- 
ters of  Chrid's  reign,  are  very  remarkable,  v/hen  we  con- 
fider  v/hat  has  taken  place  in  France,  and   feem  to   def- 
cribe  x\iit  true  Liberty  and  Equality — "  All  thofe  vain  ti- 
"  tlss,  which  now  ferve  for  ornament  and  pride,  Ihall  then 
''  be  vanqj]ithed.    Brotherly  love  fhall  make  all  men  equal; 
*'  not  that  all  diilinaion  and  all  dignities  among  men  fhall 
*^'  ceafe.     This   kingdom   is   no   anarchy  :  there  fliall  be 
"  Tome  to  govern,  and  fome  to  obey.     But  government 
**  fhall  then  be  without  pride  and  infolencc»  without  ty- 
"  ranny,  and  without  violence.     Subjects  fhall  obey  their 
"rulers  with  in  hurc^hk  fpirit  ;  and  governors  fiiall  rule 
*'  their  fubjeds  with  a  fpint  oi  meeknefc  and  genllencrs.'' 


THE     T     I    M     E     S.  27 

hour  with  the  great  earthquake.  Though  by 
the  beajl  that  afcendeth  out  of  the  bottomlefs 
pi^,  and  which  is  to  overcome  and  kill  the 
witnelfes,  has  been  generally  underftood  the 
tyrannical  powder  of  Rome,  yet  this  power 
is  fo  much  weakened,  that  it  is  not  eafy  to 
fee  how  it  fliould  perform  fuch  a  work.  This 
beaft  may  well  fignify  the  fpirit  of  infidelity 
that  afcendeth  out  of  the  bottortilefs  pit.  T  he 
church  of  Rome  may  Itill  be  faid  to  kill  the 
witneffes  ;  for  this  mfidelity  is  her  natural 
ofF>pring.  1  he  witneffes  are  to  revive  cfter 
three  days  and  an  half  that  is,  after  three 
years  and  an  half,  or  a  fhort  fpace  of  time."^ 

*  It  is  an  opinion  which  has  very  generally  obtained, 
that  the  flaying  of  the  witneffes,  from  the  manner  in  which 
it  is  mentioned,  and  becaufe  it  is  faid  to  come  to  pafs 
'ivhen  they  fli all  have  fiuijhed  their  tejiimonyj  is  fomething 
diflind  irom  their  prophefying  in  fackcloth,  and  fignifies 
a  more  dreadful  perfeciition  of  the  church  than  has  yet 
been  tulfilled.  The  late  Prefident  Edvrards,  in  a  treatiie 
entitled,  **  An  humble  attempt  to  promote  explicit  agree- 
ment and  viiible  union  of  God's  people  in  extraordinary 
prayer  for  the  revival  of  religion,  &c."  endeavors  to  ihow, 
with  his  ufual  llrength,  that  the  witneiTes  were  (lain  pre- 


28  S    I    G    N    S     OF 

But  thefe,  with  fome  other  parts  of  pro- 
phecy, may,  on  fome  future  occafion,  be 
more  fully  confidered.  At  prefent,  let  me 
conclude  with  a  few  reflections. 

1.  Let  us  not  be  difcouraged  at  the  de- 
lay of  the  accomplifhrnent  of  the  promifes 
of  God,  or  any  unfavorable  circumftances 
which  appear.     One  day  is  with  the  Lord  as 

vious  to  the  reformation.  It  is  alfo  faid,  that  the  \vord>i 
may  be  rendered,  While  they  Jhall  perform  their  tefii- 
mony.  The  arguments  may  be  feen  at  large  in  that  valu- 
able treat  ife. 

But  if  any  flill  think,  that  the  prophecy  was  not  then 
fulfilled,  it  is  applicable  to  nothing,  which  at  prefent  ap- 
pears, fo  much  as  to  the  great  and  public  difrefpeft  fhown 
to  the  Chriftian  religion  in  France.  The  Rev.  Mr. David 
Auftin,  in  his  *'  Downfall  of  myftical  Babylon,"  gives 
this  likewife  as  his  opinion  ;  with  this  addition,  that  the 
tu)o  iiitficffes  may  fignify,  "  The  fpirit  and  the  zvord, 
with  their  ufual  and  outward  methods  of  adminiflrution  j" 
and  that  the  prefent  decline  of  religion  in  the  world  is  the 
dark  period  which  has  been  expected,  and  the  time  when 
the  witncfTes  are  flain.  At  any  rate,  it  is  not  at  all  pro- 
bable, that  popery  lliall  ever  recover  itrength  enough  to 
^0  what  it  once  did. 


THE      T      I      M      E       S.  29 

a  thouf and  years ^  and  athoujand  years  as  one 
day.  All  will  come  to  pafs  in  the  belt  way 
and  time.  Out  of  what  we  think  darknefs 
and  confufion,  light  and  order  will  arife. 

Again,  Let  us,  inflead  of  curioufly  in- 
quiring what  are  the  purpofes  of  God,  or 
feeking  to  be  wife  above  what  is  written, 
diligently  attend  to  what  Providence  pointj; 
out  to  be  our  duty.     Are  we  not  called,  at 
this  day,  to  courage  and  zeal  in  profeffing 
and  defending  the  truths  of  the  gofpel  ?  In 
proportion  as  impiety  grows  bold,    ought 
not  the  followers  of  Chrifl  to  appear  openly 
in  his  caufe  ?  Ought  they  not  cheerfully  to 
corred  abufes,  and  efpecially  to  (how,  by 
the  fimplicity  and  holinefs  of  their  lives,  that 
the  kingdom  of  God  is  not  meat  and  drink  ; 
but  righteoufnefs,  and  peace,  and  joy  in  the 
Holy  Ghoji  ?  We  know  the  utmoft  flrengtli 
of  the  oppofers  of  revelation,  and  we  may 
confidently  challenge   them   to   the  field. 
Their  reign  is  fliort.     We  aflc  no  aid  from 
temporal  power,  fuperftitious  fears,  and  the 

D 


so  S    I    G    N    S    OF 

prejudices  of  education;  but  venture  al!  on 
the  diflates  of  the  beft  reafon,  and  the  re- 
fult  of  the  moft  deliberate  difcufiion. 

Again,  Are  we  not  called  at  this  day  to 
earned  prayer  and  fuppHcation  to  God?  Is 
he  not  the  hearer  of  prayer,  the  refuge  to 
which  his  people  in  all  times  refort  ?  Let 
us,  then,  plead  with  him,  that  every  obfta- 
cle  in  the  way  of  the  general  reception  of 
the  gofpel  may  be  removed ;  tliat  he  would 
deftroy  popifli  fuperflition,  and  pagan  idola- 
try ;  and  that  the  earth  r,iay  be  full  of  the 
knowledge  of  the.  Lord,  as  the  wa,ters  cover  tlie 
fea. 

Lastly,  Are  v/e  not  called  to  acquiefce 
and  rejoice  in  the  divine  government  ?  Is 
it  not  wife  and  juft  ?  Miferable  is  the  con- 
dition of  the  infidel,  but  that  of  the  behever 
is  full  of  confolation.  With  refpeft  to  his 
private  concerns,  he  knows  that  all  things 
Jfi  all  too  rk  together  for  his  good ;  an  d  wi  t  h  re  f- 
pefl:  to  the  affairs  of  nations,  he  knows  that 
the  mojl  High  docth  according  to  his  will  in  the 


theTIMES.  31 

army  of  heaven^  and  among  the  inhabitants 
of  the  earth  ;  and  none  can  fay  his  hand,  or 
fay  unto  him,  What  doefi  thou  ?  With  what 
fervor  and  aflurance  may  he  offer  up  to  his 
Father  in  heaven  thefe  petitions  which  our 
Lord  hath  taught  us  !  Thy  kingdom  come. 
Thy  will  be  done  on  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven^ 


I  S  C  O  U  R  S  E    11. 


KINGDOM    OF    CHRIST. 


i-^i,^;^: 


JOHN     xvHi.  36. 
My  Kingdom  is  not  of  this  World, 


T 


HIS  is  part  cf  that  good  confejjion  v/hich 
our  Lord  zoitnejfed  before  Pontius  Pilate. 
Having  been  falfely  accufed  and  condemn- 
ed for  blafphemy,  by  Caiaphas,  the  high- 
prieft  of  the  Jews,  he  was  brought  to  Pilate, 
at  that  time  governor  of  Judea,  and  accufed 
before  him  of  defigns  injurious  to  the  Ro- 
man government.  His  accufers  determined 
on  putting  him  to  death,  and  not  having  the 
power  in  their  own  hands,  had  recourfe  to 
the  fword  of  the  civil  magiflrate.     They  re- 


K  I  N  G  D  O  M   OF   C  H  R  I  S  T.    33 

prefented  him  as  one  who  was  difaffefted  to 
the  prefent  authority,  and  who  fet  up  pre- 
tenlions  of  his  own. 

Our  Lord,  when  quePdoned,  acknow- 
ledged that  he  was  a  king,  but  declared,  that 
his  kingdom  was  of  fuch  a  nature  as  would 
not  interfere  with  the  rights  of  C^far,  or 
give  him  any  juft  occafion  of  alarm.  My 
kingdom  is  not  of  this  worlcL  I  am  not  a  king 
in  the  fenfe  which  the  Jews  alledge.  I  am 
not  fuch  a  king  as  they  expeft  the  Meffiah 
to  be.  Were  this  the  cafe,  my  claim  would 
beaflertedby  force;  my fervants would Jight 
againft  thofe  who  have  now  apprehended 
me,  and  feek  my  life.  My  dominion  is 
wholly  feparate  and  different  from  that  ex- 
ercifed  by  the  kings  of  this  world. 

Happy,  my  brethren,  had  it  been  for 
mankind,  had  they  attended  to  this  declara- 
tion. Chriftianity  would  not  then  have  been 
fo  vilely  adulterated,  it  would  not  have  af- 
fumed  fo  diftorted  an  appearance,  and  it 
would  not  have  been  made  the  occafion  of 


34  KINGDOM 

fo  much  confufion  and  blood-fned.  Happy 
will  it  be  for  mankind,  if,  after  long  experi- 
ence, they  correct  their  miftake  as  to  the 
church  of  Chrift,  and  no  longer  attempt  to 
incorporate  it  with  the  ftate.  The  uniting 
civil  and  ecclefiaftic  power  in  one  perfon, 
or  the  blending  the  Chriilian  fyftem  with  ci- 
vil government,  formed  the  beajt  at  Rome ; 
and,  in  proportion  as  the  efFefts  of  this  de- 
cline in  the  world,  we  may  hope  for  the 
exiftence  of  true  liberty  and  undefiled  reli- 
gion. From  what  we  witnefs  in  our  day, 
the  time  cannot  be  far  diflant,  when  rulers 
will  either  learn  their  folly,  and  cheerfully 
confent  to  a  reformation,  or  when  they  fliall 
be  compelled  to  relinquilh  their  ungodly 
ufurpation  over  the  confciences  of  men, 

N  A  T I  o  N  A  L  eftabiifhments  of  religion  were 
faid,  in  a  late  difcourfe,  to  be  a  principal 
fource  of  the  infidelity  which  is  abroad,  and 
the  abolition  of  them  was  reprefented  as  an 
objeft  very  defirable.  Though  in  this  coun- 
try we  have  no  eftablifhments  to  lament, 
yet  we  cannot  be  uninterefted  in  the  welfare 


OF     C    H    R    I    S    T.         35 

of  the  human  race  ;  and  the  confideration 
of  this  fubjefl:  will  afford  us  reafon,  as  to 
ourfelves,  for  gratitude  and  praife. 

Shall  it  be  faid,  that,  in  afcribing  infi- 
delity in  Europe  to  a  certain  caufe,  aviiiai- 
cation  of  it  is  attempted  ?  Be  allured,  that 
infidels  will  ever  fneer  until  profefTmg  Chru- 
tians  afl:  as  they  ought.  They  will  never 
be  perfuaded,  that  the  Chriftian  religion  is 
from-  heaven,  while  mixed  with  the  civil 
conftitutions  of  this  world.  Shall  it  be  faid, 
that  the  do6lrine  tends  to  kindle  the  flames 
of  war  ?  So  far  from  this,  that  it  removes 
what  has  been  the  great  caufes  of  war  in 
every  age,  and  leads  to  univerfal  peace. 
There  can  be  no  reformation  without  re- 
volutions, and  revolutions  are  frequently, 
through  the  corrupt  pafTions  of  men,  manag- 
ed with  great  fiercenefs  and  heat.  Do  any 
mean,  that  we  ought,  without  refiftance,  to 
fubmit  to  either  civil  or  ecclefiaflic  tyranny  ? 
To  this  the  preacher  cannot  fubfcribe  while 
he  has  a  breath  to  drav/,  or  while  the  blood 
flows  in  his  veins.     His  creed  he  impofes  on 


36         KINGDOM 

no  man,  let  no  man  impofe  his  creed  on 
him.  Entitled  to  proteftion  from  every 
government  to  which  he  demeans  himfelf 
as  a  good  citizen,  he  is  accountable  for  his 
religious  faith  and  praftice  to  Jefus  Chrifl 
alone,  who  is  the  King  of  kings,  and  Lord  of 
lords.  Let  us  inquire  in  what  refpefts  his 
kingdom  is  not  of  this  world. 

It  is  not  of  this  world  in  refpeft  to  its  w<^- 
ture  ;  in  refpeft  to  it^fubjeEls  ;  in  refpeft  to 
its  laws  ;  in  refpeft  to  the  vieaiis  of  its  pro- 
motion ;  and  in  refpeft  to  its  defign^  extent^ 
and  duration. 

First,  It  is  not  of  this  world  in  refpefl 
to  its  nature.  It  is  wholly  fpiritual.  Jefus 
is,  indeed,  a  king,  but  his  dominion  is  over 
the  hearts  of  men,  and  he  claims  none  of 
the  external  power,  fplendor,  and  emolu- 
ments of  an  earthly  monarch. 

The  Jews,  mifmterpreting  ancient  pro- 
phecies, expected  that  the  MeiFiah  would 
come  in  great  temporal  glorv,   deliver  the 


OF    C    H    R    I    S    T.        37 

nation  from  bondage,  and  exalt  it  to  a  ftate 
of  profperity  above  all  others.  How  general 
this  opinion  was,  appears  from  the  requeft 
of  the  mother  of  Zebedee's  children  to  Chrift 
for  her  two  fons  ;  Grant  that  thefe  my  two 
Jons  may  fit,  the  one  on  thy  right  hand,  and 
the  other  on  thy  left,  in  thy  kingdom.  We 
find,  that  his  difciples  afked  him,  even  after 
his  refurreflion.  Lord,  wilt  thou  at  this  time 
re/lore  the  kingdom  to  Ifrael  ?  Not  until  after 
his  afcenfion,  and  the  miffion  of  the  Holy 
Ghoft,  were  they  fully  inflrufted  in  the  na- 
ture  of  that  kingdom  which  he  had  erefted. 
The  greater  part  of  the  nation  were  offend- 
ed at  the  meannefs  of  his  appearance.  To 
them  he  had  nojorm  nor  comelinefs;  no  beauty 
that  theyjliould  dejire  him;  and  Chrijl  cruci- 
fied, is,  at  this  day,  the  great  fiumbling- 
block. 

Not  only  have  the  Jews  been  miftaken, 
but  thofe  who  acknowledged  Chrift,  and 
received  his  doftrine,  have  not  duly  confi- 

E 


38         KINGDOM 

dered  the  fpirituality  of  his  kingdom.   Why 
e!fe  have  they  ftrove  to  model  it  like  an 
earthly  kingdom  ?  Why  have  the  church 
and  the  ftate  been  incorporated  ?  Why  has 
there  been  the  fame  head  to  both,  and  obe- 
dience enforced  by  the  fame  laws  and  fanc- 
tions  ?  Why  has  it  been  attempted  to  unite 
thins:s  which  cannot  be  united  without  def- 
troying  their  very  nature?  It  was  not  confi- 
dered,  that  the  Chriftian  church  differs  from 
any  political  affociation  whatever.     It  is  a 
fociety,  and,  in  this  general  idea,    agrees 
with  civil  inftitutions,  but  it  is  a  fociety  pe- 
culiar and  diflina.     Whenever  it  is  made 
conformable  to  a  fyftem  of  civil  policy,  it 
is  no  longer  the  true  church  of  Chrifl.  You 
•may  call  it  a  national  church,  if  you  will, 
but  it  has  loft  the  diftinguifhing  charafter- 
iftic  of  the  church  of  Chrift,  that  is  not  of 
this  world.*^' 

^  **  The  cliurcK  is  a. fociety,  wliolly  dlftin6l  in  its  priii- 
'*  ciples,  laws,  and  end,  from  any  which  men  have  ever 
*<  inftitutcd  for  civil  piirporc?,"  Preface  to  t^e  Conflita- 
tutjon  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church. 


OF     C     H     R    I    S    T.         3^ 

Secondly,    The  kingdom  of  Chrift  is 
not  of  this  world  in  refpeft  to  its  fubjeds. 
All  who  compofe  a  nation,  are  the  fubjefts 
of  its  government,  but  the  church  does  not 
embrace  all  thefe.     Her  fubjefts  are  only 
thofe  who   make   a  credible  profeflTion  of 
faith  in  the  doftrines,  and  obedience  to  the 
precepts  of  Chrift.     The  real  fubjefts,  in- 
deed, are  onXy  thofe  who  are  united  to  Chrift, 
and  have  been  purchafed  by  his  blood.    In 
the  fight  of  the  church,  however,  all  are  to 
be  accounted  fuch,    whofe  profeffion  and 
praftice  are  agreeable  to  the  gofpcl.  Hence 
comes  the  diftinftion  of  the  church  vifible 
and  invifible.     As-  it  is  the  prerogative  of 
God  to  fearch  the  heart,  we  muft  be  guided 
by  that  which  is  vifible  ;  and,  therefore,  we 
include  in  the  kingdom  of  Chrift  all  his  pro- 
felTed  followers.     Thefe,  in  the  judgment 
of  the  church,  ar<e  not  of  the  worlU,  even  as 
Chrijl  is  not  of  the  world  ;  they  are  chofen, 
called  to  be  faints. 

Here,  then,  is  an  evident  diftinflion  be- 
tween the  church  and  the  ftate,  vdiich  an 


40  KINGDOM 

incorporation  of  them  takes  away.  In  a  na- 
tional church,  all  who  comply  with  certain 
rites  prefcribed  by  the  civil  government,  are 
reputed  members  of  the  church,  and  may 
hold  offices  in  the  fiate  ;  but  if  they  do  not 
comply,  they  are  call  out  of  the  church, 
and  deemed  unworthy  of  truft,  though  they 
fhould  be  of  exemplary  life,  and  give  every 
evidence  of  being  loyal  fubjefts.* 

It  is  true,  that  many  who  are  members 
of  an  eftablifhed  church,  are  alfo  members 
of  Chrift's  kingdom,  but  this  is  no  fair  ar- 

*  Mr.  Booth,  in  his  "  Eflay  on  the  kingdom  of  Chrift,'* 
fays,  "  The  church  of  England,  for  inftance,  inchides 
"  all  Englifli  fubje6ls  of  the  Britifh  crown,  whether  they 
*'  be  moral  or  profligate,  pious  or  profane  :  foch  only  ex- 
'*  cepted,  as  have  not  been  baptized,  or  as  lie  under  a  fen- 
''  tence  of  excommunication.  Nay,  fo  tenacious  is  the 
"  Englifh  church  of  this  idea,  as  to  confider  members 
*'  v/ithin  its  pale,  who  never  confidered  them-felves  in  that 
**  light.  For,  in  certain  cafes,  well  known  to  the  doc- 
^*  tors  in  canon  law,  proteftant  diiTenters,  and  even  popifh 
*'  recufants,  are  caft  out  of  its  communion — caji  out,  v/ith 
**  dreadful  penalties  annexed,  though  they  never  acknow- 
**  ledged  thcinfelves  to  be  in  I'* 


OF     C    H    R    I    S    T.         4t 

gument  in  favor  of  the  mixture.  It  is  con- 
founding two  things  which  are  totally  dif- 
ferent ;  it  is  bringing  into  one  inclofure  the 
men  of  the  world,  and  thofe  chofen  out  of 
the  world.  Who  (hall  tell  whether  they 
obey  Chrift,  or  conform  to  an  afl:  of  legifla- 
ture  ?  Whether  they  are  moved  by  love  to 
the  Saviour,  or  by  a  thirll  after  worldly 
honor  and  profit  ?  How  (hall  the  minillers 
of  Chrift  keep  his  ordinances  from  being 
profaned  ?  What  are  thofe  to  do  who  can- 
not conform  without  violating  their  con^ 
fciences  ?  Arc  they  to  be  reckoned  dogs,  not 
meet  to  take  the  children's  bread,  and  to  be 
deprived  even  of  the  rights  of  citizenfliip  ? 
There  is  no  end  to  the  abfurdities  and  mif- 
chiefs  of  this  plan.  What  arrogance  in 
mortals  to  fay,  that  this  is  the  true  church, 
that  thefe  are  the  true  members,  to  the  ex- 
clufion  of  all  others  ! 

Nor  is  this  the  worft.  Different  creeds 
and  different  ufages  have  been  eftablifiied 
at  different  times,  and  all  fanflioned  by  hu- 
man laws.     He  who.  was  reckoned  a  Chrifti- 


42  KINGDOM 

an  at  one  time,  would  not  be  reckoned  a 
Chriflian  at  another.*  There  is  v/hat  is 
ftill  worfe.  Under  the  very  fame  conftitu- 
tion  of  civil  government,two  different  modes 
of  admiffion  to  the  miniftry,  and  of  wordiip, 
are  eftablifhed  ;  the  Epifcopalian  and  Pref- 
byterian  ;  both  of  which  are  lawful,  accord- 
ing to  the  ilatutes  of  the  realm  ;  and  yet  the 
minifters  of  the  fouth  will  not  receive  thofe 
of  the  north  ;  nor  can  the  minifters  of  the 
north  receive  thofe  of  the  fouth.  Thus  the 
civil  government,  determining  truth  and 
falfehood  by  a  geographical  line,  has,  in  one 
part  of  the  ifiand,  declared,  that  epifcopacy 
is  the  only  fcriptural  and  apoftolical  form  of 
the  church,  and  that  all  others  are  fpurious; 

'*  An  inftance  of  this  occurred  immediately  after  incor- 
porations began.  **  During  the  firft  years  of  Conftantine's 
"  reign,  it  was  his  fovereign  will  and  pleafure>  that  the 
*'  whole  Catholic  church  Ihoiild  believe,  that  Jefus  Chrift 
"  is  God  fupreme.  In  the  1-itter  part  of  his  reign,  it  is 
*^  the  fovereign  will  of  the  imperial  court,  that  the  Ca^ 
^'  tholic  church  fliould  anathematize  her  former  faith,  and 
^*  curfe  -her  former  creeds.  Couacils  were  fuccefiively 
"  called  to  gratify  the  whim  of  the  d.n'.''     Graham, 


OF     C    H    R    I    S    T.         43 

and  in  another  part  of  the  fame  ifland,  that 
prefbyterianifm  is  the  only  fcriptural  and 
apoftohcal  form,  and  that  all  others  are  fpu- 
rious.  Hence  what  is  a  virtue  in  England, 
is  a  crime  in  Scotland,  and  what  is  a  virtue 
in  Scotland,  is  a  crime  in  England  ;  for  the 
infallibility  of  government  has  folemnly 
pronounced  epifcopacy  and  prefbyterianifm 
to  be  both  true,  and  bothjalfe.  What  a  ftrik- 
ing  evidence,  that  religion  is  fafhioned  by 
earthly  powers  merely  to  fuit  their  own  poli- 
cy, and  that  their  condufl:  is  unjuft  and  ty- 
rannical !^ 


*  '<  In  England,  the  national  church  is  built  on  the 
<*  foundation  of  the  lords  and  commons,  affembled  in  par- 
'^  liamcnt  ;  his  majefty  the  fupreme  head,  being  the  chief 
^<  corner-ftone.  Why  is  epifcopacy  the  order  of  the 
'<  church  of  England  ?  Is  it  not  becaufe  it  is  thought  to 
"  be  mofl  conducive  to  the  political  defigns  of  goverrt- 
"  ment,  in  England  r  If  any  demur,  we  afk,  why  the 
'*  fame  Britifh  parliament  declares  it  to  betbtir  fovereign 
•'  will  and  pleafure,  that  the  national  church  on  the  north 
**  fide  of  the  Tweed  fhould  be  of  the  prelbytcrian  form  ? 
"  Why  cannot  thofe  who  are  ordained  by  the  prefoyUry 
**  be  reputed  miniflers  of  the  chartered  church  in  Soutri 
*'  Britain  ;  and  why  cannct  thcfs  \s\\o  arc  ordained  by 


44         K    I    N    G    D     O    xM 

It  may  be  faid,  that  eftablifliments  are 
ftiH  proper,  provided  that  toleration  is  given 
to  all  defcriptions  for  the  free  exercife  of 
their  religion.  Toleration!  For  what? 
For  the  exercife  of  a  right  which  men  never 
furrendered,  and  which  it  is  impoffible  to 
take  from  them.  Difnial  muft  have  been 
the  reign  of  ignorance  and  fuperftition^wdien 
it  was  found  neceiTary  to  introduce  this 
w^ord.  To  tolerate,  implies  a  power  to  for- 
bid. Let  the  Vv  oz-d  be  forever  blotted  from 
the  vocabulary  of  Chriftians.  I  proceed  to 
fay. 

Thirdly,  That  the  kingdom  of  Chrift 
is  not  of  this  world  in  refpecl  to  its  laxos. 
The  law^s  of  men  can  regulate  only  the  out- 
ward conduft,  but  thofe  of  Chrift  reach  to 
the  thoughts  and  intents  of  the  heart.  The 
laws  of  men  afleft  only  the  body  or  eftate, 

<«  the  bifliop  be  erceemedminiflers  In  the  religious  depait- 
'*  ment  of  North  Britain  P  Mud  not  their  office-powers 
*'  in  their  refpe^iive  churches  depend  wholly  on  the  po- 
«*  litlcal  conftitution  of  the  countries  in  which  they  oiTi- 
'*  ciate  r"     Graham. 


OF      C    H    R    I    S    T.         45 

but  thofe  of  Chrift  affeft  the  mind.  Befides 
that  civil  government  is  founded  on  the 
moral  law  of  God,  which  is  written  on  the 
hearts  of  men,  and  that  the  Chriftian  reli- 
gion reveals  new  truths  and  enjoins  a  num- 
ber of  pofitive  inftitutions,  there  is  certain- 
ly the  greatefl  folly  and  impiety  in  forcing 
by  penakies,  any  fyftem  of  religious  faith 
and  praftice.  The  underftanding  cannot 
be  compelled  to  believe,  nor  the.confcience 
to  approve  whatever  is  propofed  to  it.  They 
mud  have  evidence,  the  one  to  yield  its 
affent,  and  the  other  its  approbation. 

The  laws  of  Chrift  are  no  farther  com- 
pulfory  than  that  they  recommend  them- 
felves  to  the  confcience  of  every  man  in  the 
fight  of  God.  They  deter  by  no  bodily 
pains,  and  they  allure  by  no  worldly  great- 
nefs.  Admonition,  fufpenfion  from  mem- 
berfhip,  and  excommunication  are  the 
means  appointed  for  reclaiming  the  fro- 
ward.  Penal  ftatutes  may  make  conformifts 
and  hypocrites,  but  cannot  make  true  Chrif- 

F 


46'  K    I    N    G    D    O    M 

tianSj  who  are  a  icilling people  in  a  day  of 
divine  power.    This  leads  me  to  fay, 

In  the  fourth  place/Fhat  the  kingdom  of 
Chrift  is  not  of  this  world,  in  refpeft  to  the 
means  of  its  promotion.  The  propagation, 
faccefs,  and  univerfal  reception  of  the  gof- 
pel,  do  not  depend  upon  any  of  thofe  me- 
thods by  which  earthly  monarchs  fecure  and 
extend  their  dominions. 

By  far  different  ways  was  the  Chriflian  and 
the  Mahometan  religion  propagated.  Ma- 
homet fpread  his  by  viftorious  armies,  and 
by  the  fame  tyranny  are  its  votaries  kept  in 
fubjeSion.  The  Chriflian  religion  prevailed 
by  its  own  excellence  and  the  mighty  power 

of  God,  though  all  the  kingdoms  of  the 
world  were    combined  againil  it.      Who 

w^ere  the  firft  preachers  of  the  gofpel  ?  They 
were  poor,  moft  of  them  illiterate,  chofen 
from  the  lower  occupations  in  life,  and  un- 
acquainted with  the  policy  of  this  world* 
Inftcad  of  receiving  temporal  dignities,  they 
w^ere  perfecuted  by  the  powers  Vv^hich  then 


OF     C    H     R    I     S    T.         47 

were ;  inllead  of  enjoying  large  benefices, 
they  were  often  in  hunger  and  cold ;  inllead 
of  rolling  in  fplendor  and  indolence,  they 
travelled  from  place  to  place,  publifliing 
the  glad  tidings  of  falvation.  W^  preach 
Ckrijl  crucified,  fays  Paul,  that  primitive 
bifnop,  unto  the  Jews  a  Jlimbling-block,  and 
unto  the  Greeks  foolijlmefs ;  but  unto  them 
xvhich  are  called,  both  Jews  and  Greeks, 
Chrijl  the  power  of  God  and  the  wifdovi  of 
God,  And  again.  The  weapons  of  our  war- 
fare are  not  carnal,  but  mighty  through  God, 
to  the  pulling  down  of  firong  holds  ;  cafling 
down  imaginations,  and  every  high  thing  that 
exalteth  iifelf  againft  the  knowledge  of  God, 
and  bringing  into  captivity  every  thought  to 
the  obedience  of  Chrijl.  For  the  firft  three 
hundred  years  did  Chrillianity  flourifh  with- 
out the  fupport  of  civil  governments ;  yea, 
when  it  was  oppofed  and  perfecuted  by 
them.  Not  until  Conftaniine  fucceeded  to 
the  Roman  Empire,  and  embraced  the 
Chrillian  faith,  did  earthly  powers  appear 
in  its  favour. 


48         KINGDOM 

When  Chriflians  in  their  turn  had  obtain- 
ed the  fway,  it  was  natural  to  employ  it  in 
a  manner  which  they  judged  to  be  for  their 
own  advantage.  So  far  as  this  was  done  to 
defend  themfelves  againfl  the  encroach- 
ments of  their  enemies,  it  was  proper;  but 
to  enforce  opinions  and  modes  of  worfhip 
by  the  fword,  was  fubjefting  others  to  the 
fame  oppreffion  and  cruelty  of  which  they 
had  fo  loudly  complained  in  others  toward 
them.  They  did  not  confider  that  nothing 
more  was  neceffary  than  prote6lion  in  the 
enjoyment  of  their  rights,  and  that  to  arm 
the  Chriftian  religion  with  the  fword,  was  to 
degrade  and  put  it  on  a  level  with  all  the 
falfe  religions  on  the  earth.  The  Pagan  and 
Mahometan  fyflems  needed  this,  but  as  to 
the  kingdom  of  Chrift,  it  was  ufelefs,  and  in 
the  iffue  proved  highly  deflruftive.  The 
pious  emperor  was,  no  doubt,  fully  per- 
fuaded,  that  he  was  a  nurfing  father  to  the 
church,  when  he  enriched  and  dignified  its 
miniflers,  undertook  to  enjoin  faith  in  it^ 
doQrines,  and  conformity  to  its  inflitutions, 
and  to  deflroy  all  its  oppofers ;  but,  alas. 


OF     C    H    R    I    S    T.         04 

from  his  well-meant  zeal,  fprung  afterward 
the  moft  grievous  corruptions.  The  dark 
night  of  popery  gradually  came  on  j  and 
though  at  the  Reformation,  the  day-flar  vi- 
fited  us,  yet  we  have  not  fmce  feen  the  clear 
fhining  of  the  fun. 

In  the  reign  of  Conflantine  and  of  the 
fucceedingChriftian  emperors,  was  matured 
that  mode  of  government  in  the  church  by 
different  orders,  after  the  model  of  the 
Roman  empire,  until  one  affumed  the  title 
of  Univerfal  Bifhop.  Then  numerous  cere- 
monies and  holydays,  and  fliowy  garments 
were  introduced  into  the  church,  with 
mitres  and  crofiers ;  then  priefls  began  to 
be  fpiritual  lords  and  courtiers,  and  to  fliare 
in  the  offices  of  the  (late  ;  then,  in  fhort, 
the  beautiful  fimplicity  of  the  church,  that 
noble  republic  was  loft^  and  degenerated  into 
a  fpiritual  tyranny.  * 

*  "  It  was  in  the  fourth  century  that  Chriflians  fijTt 
"  entertained  the  idea  of  allying  the  profefiion  of  Chrif- 
**  tianity  with  the  conflitution  of  the  Roman  empire. 


50  K    I    N    G    D    O    M 

The  alliance  between  the  church  and  the 
ftate.  appears  to  me,  my  brethren,  to  be  the 
very  foul  of  antichrift,  and  though  xhtfeat 
is  at  Rome,  yet  the  influence  has  been  ex- 
tended to  all  Chriftendom.  At  the  Refor- 
mation the  becift  was  wounded  but  not  killed. 


**  From  that  mGment  the  church's  greateft  woes  take  date. 
''  Thofe  furies  which  had  aduated  the  dragon,  during  the 
"  heathen  perfecuiions,  took  full  poiTeiTion  of  Chriftians. 
**  Athanafians  and  Arians  by  turns  boaft  of  the  alliance." — 
'*  The  fourtii  century  is  famous  for  the  birth  of  antichrill, 
•^  and  incorporations  ;  but  the  model  of  both  exlfted  before 
**  that  celebrated  xra." — '*  This  Catholic  church  became  as 
'^  unwieldy  as  the  empire  with  which  fhe  was  incorporat- 
'*  ed.  it  therefore  became  neceiTary  to  divide  and  fubdi- 
"  vide  her  into  parts  analagous  and  adjufted  to  the  artifi- 
**  cial  aiviGons  of  the  empire.  Thefc  partitions  accord- 
"  ingto  the  extent  of  the  territory,  and  the  quality  of  the 
**'  cities  in  them,  were  to  be  governed  by  patriarchs,  miC- 
*'  tropolitans,  bifliops,  v/itii  other  orders  of  fubfidiary 
'*"  clergy. — And  now  Chrillianity  muft  change  her  attire, 
"  that  with  dignity  flie  may  fill  tlie  throne  of  her  difcard- 
*^  ed  rival.  Superliition  opens  all  her  tinfel  treafures.  Ig-- 
**  noraiice  erecis  lier  ebOn  throne.  The  do6irines  of 
**  Chriftianity  are  adulterated.  Its  inftitutions  are  fc- 
"  phinicaied.  Ofnces,  hitherto  unknown  in  the  church 
^  arc  invented." — Grab  am » 


OF     C    H    R    I    S    T.  51 

It  dill  lives,  and  lives  in  the  very  places 
where  it  was  fappofed  to  have  been  dead. 
The  defcription  of  the  man  ofjin^  that  he 
oppofeth  ard  exalteth  himfelf  above  oM  that  is 
called  God,  or  that  is  -worfnipped ;  fo  that  he 
as  God^Jitteth  in  the  temple  of  God,  Jhevdng 
himfelf  that  he  is  God,  is  applicable  to  every 
one  who  ufurps  the  throne  of  Chrift,  as  well 
as  to  his  pretended  vicar  at  Rome.  * 

As  we  believe  then,  that  antichrift  will  in 
due  time  fall,  fo  national  ellablifhments  of 

*  Agreeable  to  this,  are  thefe  words  of  Dr.  Hopkins, 

in  his  "  Treatife  on  the  Millennium:"  ^'  There  is   no 

**  reafon  to  confider  the  antichriftian  fpirit  and  practices 

*•  to  be  confined  to  that  which  is  now  called  the  church 

**  of  Rome.     The  Proteftant  churches  have  much  of  an- 

"  tichrift  in  them,  and  are  far  from  being  wholly  reform- 

'*  ed  from  the  corruptions  and  wickednefs  in  do6i:rine  and 

**  pradlice,  which  are  found  in  that  which  is  called  Bahy- 

*'  Ion  the  great  J  the  mother  of  harlot  Sj  and  ahorntnations 

<*  of  the  earth.     Her  influece  in  promoting  delufion   and 

"  wickednefs,  extends,  in  fome  degree,  to  all  the  inhabi- 

"tantsof  the  world,   and  more  efpecially   the  Chriftian 

**  world.     Some  churches  may  be  more  pure,  and  may 

"  have  proceeded   farther  in  a  reformation   than  others ; 

**  but  none  are  wholly  clear  of  an  antichriftian  fpirit, 

^<  and  the  fruits  of  it.'* 


52         KINGDOM 

religion,  being  a  part,  muft  ceafe,  before 
Jefus  can  take  to  him  his  great  power  and 
reign.  Be  zoife  nozv,  therefore,  0  ye  kings; 
be  inJlruEled ye  judges  of  the  earth.  Serve  the 
Lord  with  fear,  and  rejoice  with  trembling. 
Kifs  the  fan  left  he  be  angry,  and  ye  perifii 
from  the  way,  when  his  wrath  is  kindled  but  a 
little.  Confent  to  furrender,  what  you  have 
fo  long  unjuftly  claimed,  and  what  mankind 
cannot  give  you.  Proteft  all  in  their  rights, 
and  recommend  religion  by  your  peaceable 
and  holy  lives ;  and  then  will  the  predi6Hon 
be  iulfilled,  that  kings  f  mil  be  nurfing  fathers 
and  their  queens  nurfing  mothers  to  the 
church. 

Once  MOREjThekingdomofChriftisnot 
of  this  world  in  refpecl  to  its  defign,  extent, 
and  duration. 


THzdefign  of  fecular  kingdoms  is  to  give 
temporal  fecuriiy  and  happinefs  to  men. 
The  defign  of  Chrilt's  kingdom  is  to  illuf- 
trate  the  perfe61ions  of  the  eternal  God  in 
the  falvation  of  fmners  of  our  race  ;  to  re- 


cfCHRIST.         53 

cover  them  from  their  apoflacy,  and  bring 
them  to  complete  holinefs  and  happinefs  in 
a  future  ftate. 

The  kingdoms  of  this  world  are  of  limit- 
ed extent,  but  the  kingdom  of  Chrift  is  in 
every  place  where  his  gofpel  is  preached. 
His  people  are  gathered  out  of  all  nations, 
and  kindreds,  and  people,  and  tongues.  All  of 
whatever  place  or  nation,  who  acknowledge 
Jefus,  belong  to  his  fociety.  They  are  all 
baptized  into  one  body,  whether  they  be  Jews  or 
Gentiles,  whether  they  be  bond  or  free  ;  and 
have  been  all  made  to  drink  into  one  fpiritm 
There  is  neither  Greek  nor  Jew,  circumcifoiz 
nor  uncircumcijion,  Barbarian,  Scythian,  bond 
nor  free  ;   but  Chrifl  is  all,  and  in  all. 

Earthly  kingdoms  are  of  fhort  duration. 
They  rife  and  fall.  Thefafhion  of  this  world 
paffeth  away.  But  the  fpiritual  kingdom 
continueth  always  the  fame.  To  the  dif- 
penfation  of  the  law  fucceeded  the  brighter 

G 


54  KINGDOM 

difpenfation  of  grace ;  and  to  this  again  will 
fucceed  the  infinitely  glorious  ftate  in  hea- 
ven, where  the  faints  will  reign  with  Chrifl 
for  ever  and  ever.    Hear  the  prophetic  ora- 
cles concerning  the  extent  of  his  kingdom 
on  this  earth  !   He  Jhall  have  dominion  from 
fca  tofea,  and  from  the  river  to  the  ends  of  the 
earth.  All  kings fiall fall  down  before  him : 
all  nations fhallferve  him.     There  was  given 
him  dominion  and  glory,  and  a  kingdom,  thai 
all  people,  nations,  and  languages  fhould  ferve 
him,  '•'  This  holy  empire  Ihall  iffue  in  the  ul- 
timate glory  ;   and  though  the  prefent  form 
of  its  adminifiration  will  ceafe   when  God 
fhallheall  in  all,  yet  the  glorified  fubjefls 
of  it  (hall  never  die,  never  bedifunited,  nor 
ever  withdraw  their  allegiance  from  Jefus 
Chrift." 

Such  being  the  defign,  extent, and  dura- 
tion of  Chrifl's  kingdom,  it  is  evidently  dif- 
tinft  from  any  earthly  kingdom,  and  an  in- 
corporation of  them  appears  to  be  impof- 
fible.     To  interweave  particular  creeds  and 


OF     C    H    R    I    S    T.         55 

modes  of  worfhip  with  the  national  confti- 
tution  is  to  make  the  church  depend  on  the 
limited  and  changeable  governments  of  this 
world.  It  is  to  divide  and  to  diverfify  it,  to 
make  it  anything,  and  nothing  at  all. 

After  what  has  been  faid, the  arguments 
in  favour  of  civil  eftablifhments  of  religion, 
muft  appear  not  worthy  of  a  ferious  con- 
fideration.  Did  not  pride  and  intereft 
powerfully  plead,  their  advocates  would 
be  alhamed  to  mention  them.  Thofe  who 
would  refer  us  to  the  Jewifh  polity  for  the 
plan  on  which  to  form  the  Chriftian  church, 
have  not  properly  confidered  the  peculiar 
nature  and  defign  of  the  government  infti- 
tuted  by  God  among  the  Jews.  If  it  be  al- 
ledged,  that  without  eftablifliments,  the  mi- 
nifters  of  religion  will  not  obtain  a  fufficient 
maintenance,  I  need  only  fay,  that  to  infure 
this,  there  is  no  neceflity  of  eftablifaments, 
which  are  exclufive  and  unequal.  Where- 
ever  thefe  are,  we  find  fome  of  the  officers 
of  the  church  enjoying  large  revenues,  while 
the  greater  part,  and  perhaps  the  moft  de- 


56  KINGDOM 

ferving,  are  reduced  to  live  on  a  fcanty  pit- 
tance. Were  this  fyflem  abolifned,  falaries 
might  be  more  equally  apportioned,  and 
without  partiality  to  any  particular  denomi- 
nation of  Chriftians.  Some  think  that  it  is 
the  duty  of  the  ftate  to  make  this  general 
and  indifcriminate  provifion  for  divine  wor- 
fhip  ;  but  to  me  it  appears  moll  eligible  to 
leave  this  matter  wholly  to  be  managed  by 
the  profeffors  of  religion.* 

*  Whoever  defircs  farther  information  on  this  fubje£l, 
will  find  it  fully  handled,  and  all  obje61:ions  fatisfa6lorily 
anfwered  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  William  Graham,  of  Nev;'- 
caRle,  in  his  *'  Revievi^  of  Ecclefiaftical  Eftablifhments  in 
Europe,"  a  late  excellent  produ6i:ion. 

None,  in  this  country,  I  believe,  contend  for  any  efla- 
blidiment  but  that  which  is  equal  and  general.  Their  ar- 
guments are  founded  chiefly  on  the  fupport  which  civil 
government  receives  from  religion,  on  the  neceffity  of  fe- 
curing  to  the  minifters  of  the  gofpel  fuch  a  maintenance 
as  will  encourage  men  of  talents,  and  giv^  them  indepen- 
dence and  rerpe6l:ability,  on  the  danger  of  the  prevalence 
of  infidelity,  if  the  civil  power  fhould  defert  religion,  and 
thus  government  itfclf  be  undermined.  Thefe  argum^ents 
z:t  indeed  pb.ufible  ;   but  they  are  all  fufficienily  anfvvcr- 


OF     C    H    R    I    S    T.         57 

Tnisfubjeft,  my  bYethren,  is  truly  ferious 
and  important.  In  this  country,  as  has  been 
faid,  we  have  nothing  to  fear  from  an  im- 
proper interference  of  civil  government  in 
matters  of  religion.  Happy  Americans  ! 
whofe  forefathers  fled  from  the  dragon  into 
the  wildernefs,  and  theferpent  caft  out  oj  his 
mouth  water  as  ajloodafter  thevi,  may  God 
preferve  you  to  the  lateft  ages,  make  your 
country  the  dwelling  of  righteoufnefs  and 
peace,  an  afylum  to  the  perfecuted  of 
all  nations  !* — But  furely  we   have  not  di- 


ed by  faying,  that  the  Chriftian  religion  abundantly  prof- 
pered  long  before  it  had  any  conne6lion  with  civil  govern- 
ment ;  yea,  when  all  the  powers  on  earth  fet  themfelves  in 
oppofition  to  it.  It  made  rapid  progrefs  long  after  mi- 
racles ceafed,  by  its  own  excellence  and  the  zeal  of  its 
teachers. 

*  Every  body  will  fee  the  force  and  beauty  of  the  fol- 
lowing defcription:  **  In  America,  that  country  which 
"  God  and  man  have  concurred  to  render  the  blifsful  habi- 
"  tation  of  abundance  and  of  peace,  the  poor  are  not 
"  broken  down  by  taxes  to  fupport  the  expenfivc  trappings 
**  of  royally,  or  to  pamper  the  luxury  of  an  infolent  no- 


58         KINGDOM 

vefted  ourfelves  of  afFeclion  for  all  the  reft 
of  the  world.  We  believe  in  a  Catholic 
church,  the  communion  of  faints,  and  can- 
not but  ardently  v/ifh  the  profperity  of  the 
whole  body.  The  fubjecl  muft  engage  our 
peculiar  attention  at  this  day,  when  we  fee 
the  dreadful  effeSs  flowing  from  the  abufes 
of  Chriftianity.  Men  will  not  take  pains  to 
examine  the  purity  and  fimplicity  of  this 
religion  as  exhibited  in  the  facred  oracles  ; 
they  only  confider  it  in  that  form  which  le- 
giflatures  have  given  it ;  and  finding  it  to  be 
burdened  with  follies,  to  be   an  engine  of 

"  bility.  No  lordly  peer  tramples  down  the  corn  of  the 
"  huibandman,  no  proud  prelate  wrings  from  him  the 
*'  tythe  of  his  indullry.  They  have  neither  chicanery  in 
"  ermine,  nor  hypocrify  in  lawn.  The  community  is 
*'  not  there  divided  into  an  opprefTcd  peafantry  and  an 
^'  overgrown  ariftocracy,  the  one  of  whom  lives  by  the 
'*  plunder  cf  the  ftate,  while  the  others  are  compelled  to  be 
**  the  cbje6is  of  it.  Plenty  is  the  lot  of  all,  fuperfiuity  of 
'*  none.  An  equal  and  undiiiinguifliing  law  is  the  only 
**  fovercign  acknowledged  by  a  free  and  an  united  people, 
**  which  as  all  contribute  to  make,  {q  all  are  inclined  to 
"  fupport.  The  peace  of  millions  cannot  there  be  broken 
"  by  the  bloody  difpofition  of  one  man/' -GerraJd. 


OF     C    H    R    I    S    T.         59 

pride  and  ambition,  and  to  carry  in  its  bo- 
fom  the  dagger  of  perfecution,  they  run  into 
open  deifm.  May  we  not  hope,  that  the 
Ihadows  are  fleeing  away  before  the  glorious 
Sun  which  is  to  enlighten  all  nations  !  We 
deplore  the  unhappy  infidelity  in  France, 
but  cannot  help  repeating,  that  it  is  the  na- 
tural confequence  of  a  detefled  fyflem;  the 
offspring  of  the  great  whore  thatjitteth  upon 
many  waters ;  zoith  whom  the  kings  of  the 
earth  have  committed  fornication.  When  her 
judgment  is  come,  infidelity  will  perifli  by 
the  celeftial  arms  of  the  gofpel.  Another 
Luther  and  another  Calvin  fliall  arife,  to 
carry  the  banner  of  the  crofs  triumphant 
round  the  globe. 

Let  me  conclude,  my  brethren,  with  be- 
feeching  you  all,  to  become  willing  fubjefts 
of  Chrifl  s  kingdom.  This  does  not  con- 
fift  in  attaching  yourfelves  to  a  particular 
denomination  in  his  church,  but  in  yield- 
ing him  the  homage  of  a  pure  heart.  Re- 
ceive him  by  faith,  as  your  prophet,  prieft. 


6o  KINGDOM 

and  king.  Let  your  allegiance  be  fincere 
and  univerfal ;  and  then  (hall  he  make 
you  more  than  conquerors  over  all  your 
enemies,  and  grant  you  to  fit  with  him 
upon  his  throne. 


DISCOURSE  IIL 


CORRUPTIONS  OF  CHRISTIANITY, 


f^tt:^= 


COLOSSIANS  ii.    8. 

Beware  lest  any  man  spoil  you  through  phi- 
losophy and  VAIN  DECEIT,  AFTER  THE  TRA- 
DITION OF  MEN,  AFTER  THE  RUDIMENTS  OF  THE 
WORLD,  AND  NOT  AFTER  ChRIST. 

r  I  ^ 

JL  HE  /Vpollle,  in  this  chapter,  faithfully 
warned  the  believing  Coloffians  againft  a 
corruption  of  the  doftrines  of  Chrift,  and  a 
departure  from  fimplicity  in  his  worfliip^ 
He  referred  particularly  to  the  Pagan  and 
jewilh  fyflems,  by  which  the  church  was, 

H 


62  CORRUPTIONS 

at  that  time,  greatly  endangered.  The  con- 
verts from  each,  were  attached  to  their  pecu- 
Jiar  opinions  and  ufages,  and  endeavoured 
to  incorporate  them  with  the  Chridian  fyf- 
tem. 


Though  the  Apoflle  made  all  due  al- 
lowance foi  the  prejudices  of  education,  and 
infifled  that  a  difference  m  fentiment  and 
praftice,  ought  to  be  no  caufe  of  breaking 
communion  among  profeflbrs,  yet  he  con- 
flantly  vindicated  the  purity  of  the  gofpel; 
declared  that  the  Jewifli  rites  and  ceremo- 
monies  were  abolifhed,  and  thatthofeof  the 
Gentiles  were  improper  and  prejudicial. 
Both  thefe  are  comprehended  under  the 
terms  philojophy  and  vain  deceit^  (lie  tradition 
of  men,  and  the  rudiments  of  the  world.  He 
points  out  particularly  in  the  following  ver- 
fes,  fome  of  thefe  things ;  fuch  as  p^'efcribing 
certain  meats  and  drinks,  obferving  holy- 
days  ;  and  generally,  all  the  commandments 
and  dodrines  of  mew,  whatever  comes  under 
the  name  oiwiU-worfiip,  or,  as  it  is  expreffsd 


OF    CHRISTIANITY.      63 

in  the  text,  was  not  after  Chriji ;  that  is,  had 
not  the  fandion  of  his  authority. 

It  is  to  be  lamented,  that  notwithftanding 
the  frequent  injunctions  of  the  apoftle,  many 
in  every  age  have  difcovered  a   difpofition 
to  make  innovations   in  the  Chriftian   reli- 
gion, and  not  only  to  obferve  thefe  them- 
felves,  but  to   enforce  them  upon   others. 
This  has  had  a  moft  pernicious  eiTeft,   by 
drawling  men  off  from  real  piety  to  external 
fhow  or  bodily  fervice;  and  by  reprefenting 
Chriflianity  in  an  unfavourable  light.     To 
this  as   well   as  to   civil  eftablifhments  of 
religion,  which  I  lately  difcufled,  are  we  in 
part  to  afcribe  the  alarming  progrefs  of  in- 
fidelity in  the  world.     If  fo,  my  brethren,,  it 
is  a  fubjefl  which  nearly  concerns  us.     In- 
fidelity is  a  fign  that  fom.ething  is  wrong  in- 
refpeft  to    the   profeffors  of  Chriflianity^ 
They  cannot  fuccefsfully  combat  the  gianty 
until  they  lay  afide  their  forged  and  heavy 
armour,  and  meet  him  with  the  fimple  wea- 
pons of  the  gofpel. 


64  CORRUPTIONS 

I  SHALL,  firft.  give  abriefview  of  the  cor- 
ruptions of  the  Chriftian  religion,  and  the 
occafion  of  them.  Secondly,  I  fliall  fhow 
what  ought  to  be  the  only  rule  for  the  con- 
du61  of  Chrillians,  and  urge  the  neceffity  of 
their  complying  with  it. 

I.  As  to  the  corruptions  of  the  Chriftian 
religion,  they  began  very  early.  In  the  days 
of  the  apoftles,  was  the  foundation  laid  of 
Romifh  fuperftition  and  tyranny.  2  he  myf- 
tery  of  iniquity,  fays  Paul,  doth  already  zvork. 
In  the  firll  three  centuries,  v/hich  are  reckon- 
ed the  pureft,  many  fefts  arofe,  propogating 
their  peculiar  tenets,  and  numerous  ceremo- 
nies were  introduced  into  public  w^orfhip. 
Auguftine,  who  lived  in  the  fourth  century, 
complained,  that  ''  the  yoke  under  which 
*^  the  Jews  formerly  groaned,  was  more  to- 
*'  lerable  than  that  impofed  upon  Chriftians 
*^  in  his  time." 

The  occafion  of  thefe  corruptions  was, 
firi%  the  different  defcriptions  of  the  profef- 


OF    CHRISTIANITY.        63 

fors  of  C  hriftianity.  They  vv^ere  colleftcd,  as 
has  been  faid,  from  among  the  Jews  and 
Heathen  ;  and  could  not  be  eafily  perfuaded 
to  renounce  thofe  fentiments  and  praflices 
to  which  they  had  been  long  accuftomed. 
Among  each  of  thefe  exifted  like  wife  diffe- 
rent fefts,  which  made  a  ftill  greater  mix- 
ture and  confufion.  The  Jews  were  divid- 
ed in  their  opinions  and  modes  of  life ;  and 
the  Pagan  philofophers  did  not  all  embrace 
the  fame  fyilem.  Probably,  from  that  cele- 
brated fe6l  among  the  Jews,  called  the 
Effenes,  who  affefted  folitude,  retired  from 
the  duties  of  focial  life,  were  very  auftere  in 
their  manners,  did  the  church  of  Rome  copy 
the  monaflic  life,  and  in  procefs  of  time, 
found  an  amazing  number  of  nunneries, 
convents,  and  monafteries.  With  thefe  are 
naturally  connected,  celibacy,  penance,  and 
a  great  many  fuperflitious  rites.  With  the 
Jews  were  introduced  the  obfervance  of  cer- 
tain days ;  and  the  opinion  was  foon  main^ 
tained,  that  the  Chrifiian  prieflhood  was 
come  in  the  room  of  the  Jewifli;  and  entitled 


65  CORRUPTIONS 

to  the  like  honours  and  privileges.  This  opi- 
nion helped  toward  the  form  of  their  eccle- 
fiadical  government,  and  was  a  fource  of 
wealth  and  power  to  the  clergy."^ 

On  the  other  hand,  the  Gentiles  contri- 
buted their  (hare  of  innovations.  The)-  had 
their  philofophical  notions,  their  feaft  days, 
and  their  ceremonies  of  worfliip,  which  they 
fought  to  reconcile  w^iih  Chriltianity.  By 
mixing  falfe  philofophy  with  the  pure  doc- 
trines of  the  gofpel,  arofe  the  famous  feft  of 
the  GnoRics,  of  which  there  were  various 
branches,  each  holding  doflrines  contrary 
to   reafon  and  the  fcripture.     Hence  were 


.  *Mofheim  in  his  ecclefiaftical  hiflory  fays,  '*  That  in 
**  confequence  of  this  opinion,  the /^//7j.Oj  confidercd  ihcm- 
"  felves  as  invefied  with  a  rank  and  character  fimilar  to 
'*  thofe  of  the  l/igh-frlejl  among  the  Jews,  while  the  prcf-' 
<*  byters  reprefentcd  the  f riffs,  and  the  deacons,  tlic 
**  Lcvltes.  The  errors-  to  which  it  gave  rife  were  many ; 
**  and  one  of  its  immediate  confequcnces  was,  the  erta- 
*"*  blifhing  a  greater  difference  between  the  Chrillian 
*'  paflors  and  their  fieck,  than  tlie  genius  of  the  gofpel 
**  fcems  to  admit." 


OF    CHRISTIANITY.        67 

occafioned  warm  difputes  conceriting  the 
perfon  of  our  Saviour  and  the  Holy  Trinity. 
Not  cont^ented  with  what  was  revealed,  but 
intruding  into  things  which  they  had  notfeen, 
vainly  puffed  up  by  their  firjhly  minds,  they 
advanced  the  moft  ftrange  and  often  the. 
xnofl  contradi6lory  doftrines. 

It  Is  necefTary,  however,  to  remark  here, 
that  the  early  corruption  of  Chriftianity,  the 
different  fefls  and  difcordant  fentiments  of 
its  profefTors,  are  arguments  of  no  force 
againft  its  divine  authority.  1  here  were  a 
number  who  zealoufly  aflerted  the  truth ;  and 
even  though  they  differed  in  many  things, 
yet  they  were  generally  united  in  the  great 
effentials  of  relicrion.     No  more  is  intended 

C/ 

than  to  fhow  the  occafion  of  this  difference  ; 
that  cufloms  introduced  and  tolerated  in  the 
church,  from  the  unavoidable  circumflan- 
ces  of  mankind,  were  afterwards  continued 
and  eflablifhed  when  wholly  improper,  and 
at  lafl  abufed  to  the  great  injury  of  true  re- 
ligipn. 


68  CORRUPTIONS 

Again,  We  are  to  afcribe  corruptions  in 
the  church  to  the  pious  intentions  of  men. 
The  defire  which  they  had  to  gain  over  the 
Jews,  and  to  recommend  the  Chriltian  reU- 
gion  to  the  Heathen,  made  them  bear  with 
their  peculiarities,  and  fubmit  to  a  worfliip 
agreeable  to  their  tafle.  Mankind  are  ex- 
ceedingly attracted  by  external  appearances, 
and  the  worfhip  of  Chrift  was  fo  plain  com- 
pared wath  that  of  the  Jews  and  Heathen, 
that  ChriPiians  were  induced  to  conform  to 
thefe.  They  faw  not  v/hat  would  be  the 
confequence  of  this  conduct ;  nor  reflefted 
that  it  is  infinitely  fafer  and  eafier  to  prevent 
innovations  than  afterwards  to  reform  them. 

To  a  pious  intention  are  we,  no  doubt,  to 
afcribe  many  things  in  the  praftice  of  Chrif- 
tians,  which  have  funk  into  the  groffefl  fu- 
perftiiion.  Whence  has  proceeded  the  infli- 
tution  of  feilivals,  and  of  faints  days,  but 
from  a  defire  to  perpetuate  the  memory  of 
certain  great  events,  and  from  a  veneration 
for  the  apofiles  and  martyrs?  Whence  the 
adoration  of  the  elements  in  the  holy,  fup- 


OF    CHRISTIANITY.         69 

per?  No  more,  perhaps,  was  defigned  at 
firft,  than  to  exprefs  their  great  reverence 
for  the  ordinance,  by  kneeling  when  they 
received  it.  Whence  the  ufe  of  crucifixes, 
and  the  fign  of  the  crofs  ?  No  doubt  to  keep 
alive  in  the  mind,  the  bloody  death  of  our 
Lord  and  Saviour.  Thefe,  with  other  things 
which  might  be  mentioned,  were  foon  abuf- 
ed ;  men  annexed  them  as  neceffary  appen- 
dages to  their  worfhip,  and  placed  their 
whole  dependance  upon  them.  How  dan- 
gerous to  make  the  fmallefl  addition  to  the 
inftitutions  of  Chrift !  We  may  think  that 
we  are  promoting  his  caufe,  while  v/c  are 
doing  it  a  real  differvice. 

Again,  Many  of  the  corruptions  in  the 
church  are  to  be  afcribed  to  priefls,  who 
were  filled  with  an  ambition  to  increafe  their 
own  wealth  and  influence  among  the  people. 
After  the  Chriftian  religion  received  the 
fupport  of  civil  government,  and  its  mi- 
nifters  were  raifed  to  dignity  and  honour,  it 
rapidly  declined  from  primitive  purity.  The 

I 


70  CORRUPTIONS 

Apoille,  vvhen  fpeaking  of  the  myller}^  of 
iniquity  as  working  in  his  day,  fays.  He  zoho 
now  ietteth  will  let,  until  he  be  taken  out  oj the 
zvay ;  and  thenjhall  that  vjicked  he  revealed. 
It  is  commonly  underllood,  that  what  hin- 
dered the  growth  of  the  v/icked  one,  was  . 
pagan  Rome.  When  this  came  to  be  ruled 
by  a  Chriilian  emperor,  was  over-run  and 
deltroyed  by  barbarous  nations,  and  again 
conquered  and  formed  into  a  new  empire, 
Antichrift  became  vigorous,  and  grev/  up  to 
a  monftrous  ftature.  Form.er  errors  were 
then  confirmed,  new  ones  were  introduced, 
and  ecclefiallics  vrere  diilinguifhed  chiefly 
by  their  pride  and  licentioufnefs.  They 
found  ceremonies  in  worfliip,  pageantry  in 
drefs,  and  flatelinefs  in  deportment,  ufeful  to 
dazzle  and  keep  in  fubjeftion  an  ignorant 
multitude.  Every  thing  was  fplendid  and 
{how^y.  Tlieir  churches  were  fuperb  and 
decorated  with  images.  The  garments  in 
which  the priefls  officiated,  were  variegated 
and  cofdy.  The  (ervice  was  a  ftrange  fuc- 
cefiion  and  mixture  of  ceremonies.  No 
lonfcr  was  to  be  difcerned  the  minifler 
of  the  meek    and  lowly  jefus ;    no  Ion- 


OF     CHRISTIANITY.        71 

ger  the  divine  fimplicity  of  his  wordiip.  To 
increafe  the  revenues  of  the  church,  doc- 
trines were  invented,  fuch   as  indulgencies 
and  purgatory,  which  brought  into  the  cof- 
fers at  Rome  immenfe  treafures.     It  may 
not  be  improper  here  to  enumerate  fome  of 
the  articles  which  were  at  lad  adopted,  and 
are  at  this  day  profeiTcd  by   the  church   of 
Rome. 

They  maintain  the  fu'preme  authority 
and  infallibility  of  the  Pope ;  the  doftrine 
of  purgatory  or  an  intermediate  {late  of 
punifhment  in  the  other  world,  out  of  which 
fouls  are  to  be  delivered  by  maffes  and 
prayers;  the  invocation  and  worfhip  of  the 
virgin  Mary  and  departed  faints ;  the  wor- 
fhip of  images ;  they  perform  prayers  and 
the  fervice  of  God  in  an  unknown  tongue, 
and  lock  up  the  fcriptures  from  the  people ; 
they  maintain  the  doarineoftranfubftantia- 
tion,  withhold  the  cup  from  the  laity,  and 
affert  the  repetition  of  Chrifl's  propitiary 
facrifice;  they  inculcate  that  the  dueadmi- 
niftration  of  the  facraments  depends  on  the 
intention  of  the  minifter  who  officiates ;  they 


72  CORRUPTIOxNS 

fuperadd  to  the  word  of  God  feveral  apo- 
chryphal  books,  not  of  divine  original,  aijd 
likewife  oral  tradition;   they  hold  the  doc- 
trines of  auricular  confeffions,  of  a  bank  of 
merit,  and  of  indulgencies ;    they  have  fifti- 
tious  {lories  of  miracles  and  faints ;  pilgri- 
mages, penances,  procefTions-— But, enough! 
The  blood  runs  cold  at  the  mention  of  thefe 
things,  fo  oppohte  to  fcripture,  and  infult- 
ing  to  the  human  underflanding.     Never 
could  fuch  a   fyflem  have  been   embraced, 
had  not  men  been  given  up  to  Jlrong  delu- 
fions,  that  theyjiiould  believe  a  lie.   Thou  haft 
permitted  it,  moft  high  God,  and  thou  art 
juft  and  righteous  in  all  thy  ways  !    In  thine 
own  good  time,  thou  flialt   confume  that 
wicked  one  with  thefpirit  of  thy  mouth,  and 
Jhalt  dejlroy  him  with  the  bnghtnefs  of  thy  com- 


ing ! 


Need  we  now  wonder,  my  brethren,  that 
infidelity  (hould  prevail  in  popifii  countries? 
If  they  exercife  their  reafon  at  all,  m^uft  they 
not  fee  that  abfurdities  and  contradifiions 
cannot  come  from  above  ?  Was  it  not  to  be 


OF    CHRISTIANITY.         73 

expefted  that  the  philofophers  in  France, 
viewing  the  Chriftian  religion  to  be  the 
fpiritual  tyranny  which  was  there  eftablifh- 
ed,  would,  when  opportunity  offered,  break 
it  to  pieces  and  ftamp  it  with  their  feet?  We 
can  eafily  conceive  that  men  may  be  well 
inftrutted  in  the  arts  and  fciences,  poffefs 
much  worldly  wifdom,  and  be  extremely 
ignorant  as  to  religious  principles.  They 
have  never  given  religion  a  fair  examina- 
tion. They  have  never  feen  her  in  her  na- 
tive beauty,  dripped  of  paint  and  falfe  co- 
lours. They  have  feen  a  fury  belch  forth 
imprecations,  and  carry  v/ar  and  bloodlhed 
round  the  world,  but  not  a  gentle  maid  clad 
in  fimple  attire,  with  attractive  fmiles,  and 
prefenting  to  the  nations  the  branch  of 
peace.  We  conclude  then,  that  it  is  not  fo 
much  religion  which  they  oppofe,  as  what 
has  been  fubftitutcd  for  it ;  or  rather,  having 
always  feen  this  religion  in  connexion  with 
civil  power,  prefcribing  articles  of  faith  and 
m^des  of  worfhip  under  fevere  penalties, 
draining  the  purfes,  and  lording  it  over  the 
confciences  of  men;  and  not  conceiving  that 


74  CORRUPTIONS 

it  admits  of  a  reform,  and  can  exifi  in  an- 
other condition,  they  have  totally  and  def- 
perately  rejeded  it.  While  this  is  faid,  let 
lis  remember,  that  the  original  rife  of  infi- 
delity is  to  be  fought  in  the  blindnefs  of  the 
carnal  mind,  and  the  depravity  of  tne  car- 
nal heart;  thd.t t/ie  'natural vi'an  receiveth  not 
the  things  of  the  fpirit  of  God  ;  for  they  are 
foolflinefs  unto  hivi ;  neither  can  he^  knoza 
them,  becaifethey  arefpiritually  a  f earned J^^ 

However  extenfive  and  powerful  the 
effecls  of  the  Reformation  vfere,  yet  a  great 
part  of  the  world  continues  to  be   inflaved 

*  An  anonymous  writer,  defcribing  the  condition  of 
religion  in  France,  fays,  very  juftly,  "  Inquiiitive  men 
*'  had  fearched  for  truth,  and  aftonilhed  at  the  monftrous 
"  abfiirditics  of  tb.e  national  religion,  their  minds  llarting 
"  from,  the  extreme  of  fuperftition,  vibrated  to  the  extreme 
"of  fcepticifm.  Becaufe  they  found  religion,  clothed 
''  with  a  garb  of  fantaftical  human  artifices,  they  rejeded 
*'  her  as  a  creature  of  huiPian  invention,  pronounced  her 
**  cerem.onics  a  farce,  and  derided  her  votaries."  Infidelity 
is  no  new  thing  in  Prance  ;  it  has  long  prevailed  ;  but  of 
kte,  has  had  a  greater  opportunity  of  fhowing  itfeif.  It 
prevails  in  all  countries  where  hierarchies  are  ellabliflied. 


OF    CHRISTIANITY.        75 

hff  the  tyranny  of  Rome ;  and  even  in  that 
part  which  came  out  from  her,  and  proteil- 
ed  againft  her  errors,  much  remains  to  be 
corrected.  The  improper  mixture  of  civil 
and  rehgious  concerns  which  exift  in  Euro- 
pean countries,  loudly  call  for  amendment, 
and  in  too  many  churches  they  are  far  from 
the  original  fimplicity  of  the  ChrilMan  reli- 
gion.*— I  proceed  now. 


*  A  chief  reafon  why  foms  churches  at  the  Reformr^tlon. 
did  not  make  greater  advances  towards  purity,  was  the  af- 
fiftance  which  thcv  received  from  civil  G:overnmcnt.  Thcuah 
in  thofe  places  where  kings  and  princes  were  the  princi- 
pal promoters  of  the  defiL^n,  a  change  was  made  in  religion 
with  the  lead  confufion  and  irregularity,  yet  the  genius  of 
the  court  intermixed  itfclf  with,  and  in  fome  inftances 
prevailed  over  that  of  the  gofpel.  Both  the  government 
and  worfhip  of  the  church  were  too  much  adapted  to  tlie 
model  of  the  civil  conflitutions,  and  made  fubfervient  to 
the  vievvrs  of  princes.  This  was  the  cafe  in  Sweden,  Den- 
mark, and  England..  In  other  places,  where  the  civil 
.  power  was  employed  in  crufhing  the  R.eformatlon,  though 
it  was  attended  with  blood  and  confufion,  yet  we  find 
more  purity  of  government  and  fimplicity  of  worfhip.  The 
Jleformers  v/ere  for  making  no  accommodation  with  Anti- 
chrill  J   they  were  for  retaining  none  of  her  fuperflition  ; 


76  CORRUPTIONS 

II.  To  (how  what  ought  to  be  the  only 
rule  for  the  conducl  of  Chriftians,  and  to 
urge  the  neceffity  of  their  complying  with 
it. 

The  only  rule  ought  to  be  the  holy  fcrip- 
ture.  Whatever  is  clearly  contained  in  this, 
or  can  be  fairly  inferred  from  it,  is  the  uner- 
ring itandard  of  faith  and  pra£iice.  To  the 
law  and  to  the  teftiinony :  if  they  /peak  not 
according  to  this  zvord,  it  is  becaufe  there  is  no 
light  in  them.  This  was  the  fundamental 
principle  of  the  Waldenfes  in  the  twelfth 
century,  for  which  they  fuffered  fo  much ; 
it  is  that  in  which  the  reformed  churches 
are  agreed,  and  according  to  which  the  Re- 
formation was  conduced.  Though  a  diffe- 
rence has  arifen  about  the  interpretation  of 
fcripture,  yet  it  is  that  to  which  they  pro- 

tliey  refolved  to  believe  nothing  but  what  the  fcripturc 
taught.  This  was  the  cafe  in  Holland,  Switzerland,  France, 
feveral  parts  of  Germany,  and  in  Scotland.  Thus,  what 
feemed  a  difadvantageous,  was  a  moft  happy  circumilance. 
The  unnatural  connection  between  the  church  and  the 
flate  muH  ceafe,  before  rtligiou  become  entirely  pure. 


OF    CHRISTIANITY.         rjrj 

fefs  to  appeal,  and  would  they  be  fatisfied 
wiih  this  alone,  the  moft  happy  confequen- 
ces  would  enfue.  What  is  there  befides,  ou 
which  we  can  depend?  Shall  we  have  re- 
courfe  to  oral  tradition?  Wefhould  remem- 
ber how  feverely  our  Lord  reproved  the 
Pharifees  for  their  traditions,  which  they 
held  to  be  of  equal  authority  with  the  writ- 
ten law%  and  thus  imie  void  the  coimnind* 
merits  of  God,  We  fhould  remember  that 
from  traditions  have  fprung  the  great  cor- 
ruptions in  the  Romifli  church.  In  the  early 
ages  of  the  world,  when  the  life  of  man  was 
lengthened  out,  and  the  fame  man  faw  many 
fucceffive  generations,  truth  could  be  hand- 
ed down  by  tradition ;  but  when  mankind 
multiplied,  and  their  age  became  an  hand- 
breadth,  the  wifdom  of  God  faw  meet  to  in- 
fpire  holy  men  to  commit  to  writing  the 
things  of  our  everlafting  peace.  Tradition 
now,  is  not  only  unneceflary,  but  it  is  be- 
come unfafe  and  impure. 


K 


78  CORRUPTIONS 

Shall  wehave  recourfe  to  the  comments 
of  the  fathers,  and  the  praftice  of  the  primi- 
tive church?  Thefe  are  likev/ife  iinfafe.  At 
no  time  can  we  find  a  perfecl  model.  It  has 
been  already  fhown,  that  in  the  apoftolic  age, 
errors  crept  in,  and  which  the  apoftles  re* 
proved.  Valuable  as  the  works  of  the  fa- 
thers are,  we  muft  follow  them  no  farther 
than  they  followed  Chrifi ;  valuable  as  they 
are,  we  have  to  admire  more  the  purity  of 
the  lives  of  the  fathers  than  the  purity  of 
their  do61:rine  and  worfhip.  Would  we  now 
adopt  fome  of  the  opinions  of  a  Tertullian, 
or  an  Origen  ?  Why  not  ?  Eecaufe  we  be- 
lieve them  to  be  contrary  to  the  word  of 
God  ?  1  his  is  the  fure  ftandard  by  which 
v/e  muft  try  all  things  in  religion.  Of  thofe 
who  make  additions,  God  afks  v/ith  awful 
authority,  Who  hath  required  this  at  your 
hands ? 

If  then  the  written  word  be  acknowleds^ed 
to  be  the  only  rule,  where  is  found  the  v;ar- 
rant  for  many  things  held  facred  by  foine 


OF     CHRISTIANITY. 


79 


Froteftant  churches  ?  To  inflance,  at  pre- 
fent,  in  the  fingle  article  of  holydays,  is  there 
any  command  for  the  obfervance  of  them  ? 
May  we  not  infer  from  the  words  of  the 
Apoflle  to  the  Galatians,  that  the  obfervance 
of  them  is  will-worlliip.  )  e  obfcrve,  fays  he, 
days  and  months,  and  times,  and  years.  It  is 
a  truth,  that  the  year,  to  fay  nothing  of  the 
day  in  which  Chrift  was  born,  cannot  be 
fixed  with  certainty,  notwithftanding  the 
deep  and  laborious  refearches  of  the  learn- 
ed. Is  not  this  an  evidence  that  it  never 
was  defigned  to  be  kept  as  an  anniver- 
fary? 

It  may  be  objefted  to  our  own  church, 
that  (he  authorizes  the  obfervance  of  cer- 
tain days  ;  but  whoever  reads  our  conftitu- 
tion  lately  publifhed,  may  be  convinced  of 
the  calumny.  In  the  article  concerning 
them,  are  thefe  remarkable  words ;  ''  Wiih 
"  regard  to  feall  days,  upon  which,  befides 
*•'  the  Lord's  day,  it  has  been  cuftomary  to 
*'  abftain  from  labour,  and  toaffemble  in  the 
''  church,  it  is  refblved,  that  we  muft  be 


8o  CORRUPTIONS 

''  contented  with  the  Lord's  day  alone.  The 
''  iifual  ful^efts  however,  of  the  birth  of 
*•'  Chrift,  of  his  refurreftion,  and  fending  of 
''  the  holy  fpirit  onay  be  handled,  and  the 
*^  people  be  admonifhed,  that  thefe  feaft  days 
*'  are  abjl^fJiLdJ^'''  Thefe  words,  taken  from  a 
fynod,  held  at  Dordrecht,  and  incorporated 
with  our  conftitution,  maniiefts  the  pru- 
dence and  piety  of  our  forefathers ;  that  it 
was  proper  to  meet  prejudices  and  prevent 
idlenefs  by  preaching  on  thefe  days,  while 
the  people  w^ere  informed  that  the)/  were 
aboliihed;  and  that,  when  circumftances 
would  admit,  ought  to  be  wholly  neglefted. 

The  impropriety  of  obferving  days  of  this 
fort,  appears  from  our  having  no  rule  to 
guide  us.  We  know  not  where  to  (lop.  If 
w^e  obferve  one  day,  why  not  another  ?  Why 
not  Good  Friday,  or  the  day  of  our  Lord's 
crucifixion,  as  v;ell  as  the  day  of  his  birth 
and  refurreftion  ?     Thus  we   nnglit  go   on 

*  S':e  explanatory  article,  67. 


OF    CHRISTIANITY.        81 

multiplying  them,  until  we  made  every  day 
in  the  year  a  holyday.     Befides,  the  obferv- 
ance  of  fuch  days  is  attended  with  real  evil. 
It  will  be  found  in  experience  toleflen  a  re- 
gard for  the  Lord's  day,  and  to  promote  fu- 
perftition.     Inflead    of    preventing,   it  en- 
courages idlenefs.  People  are  taken  off  from 
their  daily  bufinefs,  and  the   time  which  is 
not  fpent  in  church,  is  fpent  in  vifiting,  feaft- 
ing,  and  other  ways  pernicious  to  the  per- 
fons  themfelves,  and  to  the  fociety  at  large. 
Were  the  church  once  to  pay  no  attention 
to  them,  the  people  would  foon  forget  to 
diftinguifli  them  as  days  of  wandering  and 
diifipation.'^^* 

*  It  may  be  qiieflicned  whether  the  drefs  of  many  of 
the  Clergy,  does  not  call  for  a  reform  ?  Whether  it  is  not 
an  imitation  of  the  Jewifh  and  Pagan  priefts,  and  con- 
trary to  the  fimplicity  of  the  worlhip  inftituted  by  Chrift? 
If  the  miniftry  of  the  gcfpel  be  committed  to  men  of  like 
paffions  with  others,  v  hy  not  to  men  of  like  habit  ?  Why 
fhould  they  ufe  a  parti'  ".lar  drefs,  when  in  the  performance 
of  their  facred  office  ?  "  It  m::y  perhaps  be  faid,"  fays  Mr. 
Booth,  in  his  Eifay  on  Carid's  Kingdom,  "  Clerical  ha- 
'J  bits  are  indifferent   and  harir.lejs  things,  except  i^hin 


82  CORRUPTIONS 

In  this  country,  my  brethren,  v^here  there 
never  can  be  any  eftabhiiiment  of  particular 
forms,  where  every  thing  is  open  to  free  dif- 
cuffion,  and  no  authonry  will  pafs  current 
but  facred  writ,  corruptions  will  gradually 
vanifh,  and  truth  be  triumphant.  1  hofe 
w^ho  v^ould  encourage  divihons  and  diilinc- 
tions,  will  find  their  truR.  Tufpidersweb,  The 
various  denominations  will  approach  nearer 
to  one  another,  having  no  worldly  induce- 
ments to  feparate,  and  finding  no  fupport 
but  from  the  pure  oracles  of  God.  We  hail 
the  aufpicious  day  !  External  pomp  and 
fplendor  are   the  ftratagems  of  ambitious 

'*  ihey  are  impofed.  But  if  fo,  the  idea  of  impofition  be- 
"  ing  excluded,  the  canonical  drefs  of  a  Popifli  pried,  the 
**  red  hat  of  a  cardinal,  and  the  triple  crovv^n  of  a  pontiff, 
*'  may  all  be  juftined  :  for,  in  theinfelveSj  they  are  eqiially 
^*  harmlefs  as  the  gown,  the  furpUce,  or  the  band."  Again, 
he  fay?,  "  When  any  minifter  thinks  of  magnifying  his 
*^  office,  by  pompofity  in  the  pulpit,  he  betrays  his  igno- 
**  ranee  relating  to  the  nature  of  that  kingdom  in  which 
"  he  profeiTes  to  be  an  officer."  I  will  not  difpute  about 
thefe  things^  they  are  not  cBcntial  ;  but  a  minifter 
would  appear  more  humble,  be  niorc  dignified,  and  ufe- 
fjl  \7itli0ut  them. 


Of    CHRISTIANITY.        83 

kings  and  priells,  but  not  the  profperity  of 
the  true  church.  This,  the  glorious  Head 
will  fecure,  by  qualifying  perfons  eminent 
forholmefs  and  zeal,  and  accompanying 
their  labours  with  his  blefling.  The  exceUen- 
cy  of  the  power  will  appear  to  be  of  God  and 
not  oj  men: 

The  revolutions  abroad  will,  we  hope, 
prove  fatal  to  every  fpecies  of  tyranny,  and 
ditfufetrue  light  into  the  darkeft  regions  of 
the  earth.  The  means  indeed  are  dreadful. 
The  news  of  blood  and  carnage  fhock  the 
feelings  of  our  nature  ;  and  yet  the  viftims 
which  have  been  offered  up  on  the  altars  of 
tyranny  are  ftill  more  dreadful.  In  what 
are  called  the  Crufades,  undertaken  by  Po- 
piih  princes,  to  recover  the  land  of  Paleftine 
from  the  Mahometans,  it  is  computed  that 
above  two  millions  of  people  were  deflroy- 
ed.  At  the  taking  of  Jerufalem  alone,  above 
feventy  thoufand  Muffelmen  were  maf- 
facred,  and  all  the  Jews  were  coUefled  in- 
to one  place,  and  burnt  together.  In  the 
war  againft  the  Albigenfes^  on  account  of 


84  CORRUPTIONS 

their  religious  principles,  it  is  computed  that 
no  lefs  than  one  million  of  them  were  flain 
in  France  alone.     At  the  maffacre  of  Paris, 
under  Charles  IX.  on  Bartholomew's  day, 
100,000    Proteftants    were    butchered     in 
France,  in  the  fpace  of  one  week.     In  what 
is  called  the  rebellion   in    Ireland,   under 
Charles  I.  150,000  Proteftants  were  murder- 
ed.    To  tell  all  the  deeds  of  tyranny,  would 
form  a  tale  moft  frightful   and   horrid.     It 
has  ftrewed  the  earth  with  the  bodies,  and 
crimfoned  the  ocean  with  the  blood  of  men. 
Where  are  the  maffacres  of  this  day  to  com- 
pare with  thele  which   have  been  mention- 
ed ?    And  thefe  are  but  a  fev/  fpecimens  of 
that  wretched  fyftem  which  is  upheld  by 
the  tears,  and  the  groans,  and  the  blood  of 
millions  of  human  beings.     Thefe  were  not 
the  w^orks  of  a  lawlefs   mob,   the   fury   of 
which  is  fudden  and  (hort,  but  the  refult  of 
a  deliberate  and  fixed  plan,   executed   by 
the    powers    which    then    were,  fpirituat 
xvickednejfcs  in  high  places-,   and  God  is  now 


o  F    C  H  R  I  S  T  I  A  N  I  T  Y,        85 

vifiting  the  iniquity  of  tJie  fathers  upon  the 
children,  * 

It  is  incumbent  upon  us,  my  brethren^ 
when  fuch  are  the  figns  of  the  times,  to 
earnefily  contend  for  the  faith  which  was 
once  delivered  unto  the  faints ;  to  conform 
ourfelves,  and  to  pray  that  others  may  be 
conformed  to  the  pure  doSrines  of  Lnrift ; 
and  that  every  objeftion  to  his  holy  religion 
may  be  removed.  Let  us  efpecially  pray, 
that  God  would  pour  outhisfpiritto  the  re- 
vival of  his  people,  and  the  converfion  of 

L 


*  Who  does  not  dlfcern  the  hand  of  Providence  in  re- 
markably avenging  the  malTacre  of  Bartholomew's  day, 
and  the  revocation  of  the  edi6l  ofNantz?  In  brintjing 
fearful  deftrudion  on  thofe  very  places  where  once  blood- 
thirftyperfecutors  drank  the  bloodof  the  faints  ?  "  Lyons," 
fays  one,  "  is  recorded  in  early  hiftory,  as  the  fpot  where 
"  a  company  of  martyrs  glorified  God.  Lyons  is  now 
"  devoted,  and  its  name  crafed  from  the  memory  of  man, 
«*  Paris  once  ftreamed  with  the  blood  of  the  Hugonots^: 
«  Paris  hath  fmce  been  dyed  with  the  (laughter  of  that 
«'  court  and  clergy,  which  inftigated  the  unutterable 
*^  deed."  ^ 


86  CORRUPTIONS 

finners  ;  that  the  power  of  Chriftianity  may 
be  feh  by  all  men ;  and  deftruftive  wars 
ceafe  unto  the  ends  of  the  earth.  O  !  when 
fhall  mankind  learn  their  true  interefl ! 
When  (hall  they  live  together  as  brethren 
of  the  fame  family, and  embrace  as  expeftants 
of  the  fame  falvation !  When  (hall  that  pro- 
mife  be  fulfilled,  that  the  wo  If JhaLl  dwell  with 
the  lamb,  and  the  leopard  Jhall  lie  down  with 
th  kid;  and  the  calf,  and  the  young  lion,  and 
the  failing  together,  and  a  little  child Jliall lead 
them!  Fulfil  it,  moft  merciful  God,  for  thy 
Son  jefus  Chrift^s  fake.  Amen. 


DISCOURSE    IV. 


ESSENTIALS  of  RELIGION. 


I.    JOHN   V.     I. 

Whosoever    eelieveth    that    Jesus    is    the 
Christ,  is  born  of  God. 


XT  is  evident  from  facred  hiftory,  that  the 
confeffion  required  of  the  firft  converts  to 
Chriftianity,  was  very  brief  and  comprehen- 
five.  To  profefs  their  belief,  that  Jefus  was 
the  only  Redeemer  of  the  world,  was  reckon- 
ed an  evidence  of  their  fmcerity,  and  gave 
them  a  right  to  the  privileges  of  the  church. 
Such  a  profeffion  is  declared  by  the  Apoftle 


88  ESSENTIALS 

John  to  be  the  great   teft  of  the   Chrifiian 
character.     Whofoever  believeth  that  Jejiis  is 
the  Chnjl ;   that  is,   whofoever  acknowled- 
ges his   unfeigned  belief  that  Jefus   is   the 
MefTiah,  the  perfon  ordained   and   fent  to 
fave  finners,  is  born  of  God ;   that  is,   bears 
his  image,  and   is   entitled  to   his   favour. 
This  phrafe  is  ufed  in  three  other  parts  of 
this  epiille,  and  in  all   of  them  fignifies  no 
lefs  than  a  fpiritual  change,  and   that   rela- 
tion which  believers  Hand  in  to  God.     See 
the  3d  chapter  and  9th  verfe;   Whofoever  is 
horn  of  God  doth  not  commit  Jin,     The  4th 
chapter  and  7th  verfe ;  Every  one  that  loveth 
is  born  oj  God,     1  he  5th  chapter  and  4th 
verfe ;   Whatfoevtr  is  born  oj  God  overcovieth 
the  world.      The  Apoflle  mentions  in  thefe 
places,  the  fruits  which  flow  from  a  faving 
change  effefted  by  God,  and  exprefifed   by 
being  born  of  him  ;  and  in  the  text,  faith  in 
Jefus  as  the  Chrift,  or  appointed  Saviour,  is 
afferted  to  be  an  evidence  of  the  fame  bleffed 
change.     It  will  be   fhown,   in  the    proper 
place,  what  is  nriplied  in  this  faith. 


OF    RELIGION.  8g 

If  wc  attend  likewife  to  the  declarations 
of  faith  which  are  recorded,  we  will  find  that 
they  principally  embraced  this  great  truth, 
that  Jefiis  was  commiffionedby  God  for  the 
falvation  of  men.  The  words  of  Nathanael 
were.  Rabbi,  thou  art  the  Son  o;  God  ;  thou  art 
the  King  of  Ifrad.  I  beUcve,  laid  Martha,  that 
thou  art  the  Chrifi,  the  Son  oj  God,  which 
Jh.ould  come  into  the  world.  The  confeffion 
of  Peter,  which  Jefus  commended,  and 
upon  which  he  hath  built  his  church  was. 
Thou  art  the  Chnjl,  the  Son  of  the  Living  God. 
Agreeable  to  this,  are  thefe  words  of  the 
Apollle  Paul :  If  thou f halt  confefs  with  thy 
mouth  the  Lord  Jefus,  and  fialt  believe  in 
thine  heart,  that  God  hath  rafed  him  from  the 
dead,  thou  fhalt  be  faved.  Nothing  more 
than  a  confellion  of  this  kind,  was  required 
of  perfons  at  their  admiflion  into  the 
church.* 


*  *<  In  the  earlieft  times  of  the  church,"  fays  Mofheim, 
in  his  Ecclefiaftical  Hitlory,  "all  who  proteived  firmly 
«  to  believe  that  Jefus  was  the  only  Redeemer  ©♦'the  world, 
"and  v/ho,  in  confequence  of  this  profefHon,  promifed  to 
**  live  in  a  manner  conformable  to  the  puruy  of  his  holy 


90  ESSENTIALS 

On  the  remarkable  day  of  Pentecoft, 
when  three  thoufand  fouls  were  added,  we 
are  informed,  that  they  that  gladly  received 
his  word  were  baptized.  What  was  his  word? 
His  fermon  turned  on  this  fmgle  point,  to 
prove  that  Jefus  whom  ihey  had  crucified, 
was  the  Meffiah  foretold  by  the  prophets, 
and  that  God  had  raifed  him  from  the  dead. 
This  was  what  he  urged  them  to  believe, 
and  upon  the  profeffion  of  which  they  were 
baptized.  It  was  on  this  point  that  Philip 
inflructed  the  Ethiopian,  li^ preached  unto 
him  Jefus ;  and  w^hen  the  Ethiopian  defired 
to  be  baptized,  Philip /aid,  If  thou  believejt 
zoith  all  thine  heart,  thou  mayejL  And  he 
anfwercd  and  f aid,  I  believe  that  Jefus  Chrijl 
is  the  Son  of  God.  Upon  this  he  was  bap- 
tized. What  was  the  anfwer  of  Paul  and 
Silas  to  the  anxious  queiiion  of  the  jailor. 
Sirs,  what  muf  I  do  to  befived?  They  faid^ 

<'  religion,  were  immediately  received  among  the  difciples 
'^ofChrift.  This  was  all  the  preparation  for  baptifm 
"  then  required  ;  and  a  more  accurate  inftrudion  in  the 
"doctrines  of  Chriflianity  was  to  be  adminiftred  to  them 
*'  after  their  receiving;  that  racrauncnt." 


OF    RELIGION.  gt 

believe  on  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrijl^  and  thou 
Jhalt  be  faved,  and  thy  houfe.     He  believed, 
and  was  baptized,  he  and  all  hisjtraightway. 

It  appears,  my  brethren,  from  thefe  fafts, 
that  in  the  earliefl  times  of  the  church,  the 
confeffion  of  faith  was  fliort,  and  chiefly  con- 
fined to  an  acknowledgment  that  Jefus  was 
a  divine  perfon  who  came  from  God,  to 
teach  and  to  fave  fmners.  This  acknow- 
ledgment, was  the  flrongefl:  evidence  of  fin- 
cerity,  when  we  confider  the  prejudices  of 
both  Jews  and  Gentiles,  and  the  dreadful 
perfecutions  to  which  the  followers  ofChrift 
were  expofed.  Afterwards,  w^hen  Chrif- 
tianity  became  more  general,  and  its  pro- 
feflbrs  enjoyed  peace,  when  different  fe6is 
arofe  and  errors  crept  in,  the  church  found 
it  neceffary  to  be  more  particular  and  ex- 
plicit in  the  confeffion  of  her  members.  For 
a  long  time,  however,  the  articles  of  faith 
were  few.  What  is  called  the  Apoflles  creed 
was  once  generally  confidered  as  a  produc- 
tion of  the  Apoftles.  It  is  now  thought, 
upon  better  examination,  to  have  been  com^ 


92  ESSENTIALS 

pofed  later,  and  not  all  at  once ;  but  to 
have  been  gradually  increafed  according  to 
the  exigencies  and  circumftances  of  the 
church.  It  is,  perhaps,  the  beft  creed  ex- 
tant in  the  world ;  fufficiently  long  to  com- 
prife  the  effential  truths  of  religion  ;  and  fo 
fliort  as  not  to  introduce  fubjefts  of  doubt- 
ful difputation. 

Though  the  church  has  a  rigrht  to  de- 
clare  the  fenfe  in  which  (lie  underftands  holy 
fcripture,  and  the  moft  beneficial  effects 
have  flowed  from  human  compilations  of 
doftrines,  confeflions  and  creeds,  yet  it  is 
not  to  be  denied  that  thefe  have  been  car- 
ried to  an  extreme,  and  been  the  means  of 
corruption  and  abufe.  The  abufe  has  been 
the  great  reafon  why  it  is  become  fafliion- 
able  to  decry  them  ;  and  though  the  abufe 
of  a  thing  will  never  be  an  argument  that  it 
is  not  good  in  itfelf,  yet  certainly,  it  is  a 
powerful  reafon  for  Chriftians  to  correft 
whatever  is  amifs. 


OF    RELIGION.  93 

Public  creeds  or  confeffions,  having  been 
fo  much  abufed,  are  oppofed  by  fome  from 
the  purell  motives.  The  arguments  which 
they  advance  are,  indeed,  very  fpecious. 
The  two  ftrongeft  are,  that  human  compo^ 
fures  of  this  fort,  derogate  from  the  fuihcien- 
cy  and  plainnefs  of  fcripture;  and  that  to 
require  an  unreferved  affent  to  them  is  an 
arbitrary  invafion  of  private  judgment* 
Thefe  may  be  fhortly  anfwered  by  faying, 
that  confedions  are  not  intended  as  a  fublli- 
tute  for  fcripture,  but  only  as  declarations 
of  the  fenfe  in  which  it  is  to  be  underftood ; 
and  that  every  fociety  has  an  undoubted 
right  to  demand  of  its  members  an  explicit 
declaration  of  tl^^ir  faith.  Thofe  who  re- 
fufe  to  comply,  cannot  with  reafon  complain 
of  any  impofition,  being  at  liberty  to  with- 
draw and  conneft  themfelves  elfewhere.  It 
is  certainly  more  reafonable  that  the  will 
of  the  fociety  prevail,  than  the  will  of  an  in- 
dividual, or  of  a  few  who  choofe  to  diffent.* 
M 

*  This  matter  is  juftiy  ftated  in  the   <^  Preface   to   ths 
<•<   Contlitution    of    the    P.eforraeti     Dutch    Church.'* 


94  ESSENTIALS 

One  great  defign  of  confeffions  in  the 
churches,  is  to  give  a  fair  account  of  the 
doftrines  which  they  maintain.     This  was 

*'  Wherever  fuch  explanations  conftitute  a  bond 
*'  ot  union  wholly  voluntary,  and  unattended  with 
*^  civil  emoluments  or  penalties,  they  cannot  be  confider- 
''  ed  as  an  infringement  upon  the  equal  liberties  of  others, 
**  or  as  fixincT  boundaries  and  terms  of  communion  ini- 
"'  mical  to  Chridian  charity.  The  unerring  word  of 
'■^  God  remaining  the  only  ftandard  of  the  faith  and  wor- 
^*  fhip  of  his  people,  they  can  never  incur  the  charge  of 
**  prefumption,  in  openly  declaring  what  to  them  appears 
"to  be  the  mind  and  will  of  their  divine  Lord  and 
^'  Mailer. 


See  farther  Mr.  Graham,  in  his  "  Review,"  &c. 
*^  Articles  of  faith  are  not  intended  to  give  an  account  of 
**  what  the  fpirit  oi  Goi\  fays.  He  hath  done  this  him- 
**  felf  in  the  fcriptures.  But  they  are  defigned  to  ajcertain 
"  what  a  fociety  believes  to  be  the  meaning  of  what  God 
*'  hath  already  faid,  many  ages  ago.  Some  may  probably 
'^'exclaim — Is  any  church  infallible?  Is  the  creed  of  any 
**  fallible  fociety  to  be  reckoned  a  ftandard  of  truth  ?  V/e 
"*  anfwer, — No  !  The  Bible,  the  Bible  alone  is  the  reli- 
''  gion  of  Proteftants— of  Chriitians  !  Yet  the  public  con- 
**  feiTion  of  any  church  is  the  public  ftandard  to  her  own 
'*  members,  of  that  Jenje  in  which  (he  underdands  the 
«*  fcriptures." 


OF    RELIGION.  95 

efpecially  neceffary  in  the  firft  ages  of  Chrif- 
tianity,  and  after  the  Reformation.  It  pre- 
vented the  doftrines  from  being  mifrepre- 
fented  and  calumniated.  Confeflions  tend 
alfo  to  fhow  how  far  all  churches  are  agreed, 
to  ftrengthen  one  another,  and  to  promote 
a  profitable  correfpondence  between  them. 
They  are,  befides,  fubfervient  to  the  mainte- 
nance of  purity,  and  are  ufeful  compen- 
diums  or  furamaries  of  the  Chriftian  faith, 
by  the  means  of  which  the  young  and  the 
ignorant  are  the  more  readily  inftrufted.  It 
is  not  therefore  the  ufe,  but  the  abufe  of 
creeds  which  needs  correftion. 

The  principal  abufes  of  creeds  appear  to 
be  thefe ;  the  arming  them  with  force  by 
incorporations ;  and  the  extending  them  fo 
as  to  include  articles  unfcriptural,  or  non- 
effential.  In  either  of  thefe  cafes  they  admit 
of  but  a  lame  defence.  In  the  firft,  they 
are  miferably  perverted,  become  merely  po- 
litical engines,  and  infringe  the  rights  of 
confcience.     They  are  no  longer  true  deck- 


q6  essentials 

rationsof  the  faith  of  the  church."^  Again, 
by  extending  her  articles  too  far,  the  church 
excludes  from  her  communion  thofe  whom 
file  ought  to  receive.  This  laft  is  an  abufe 
which  may  exift  where  there  are  no  incorpo- 
laticns.  has  not  been  fufficientlv  attended  to, 
but  which  requires  our  ferious  confidera- 
tion. 


The  elTential   doClrines   of  religion   are 
comparatively  few.      The  only  difficulty  is 


*  *^  Some  chcrches»might  be  named,  whofe  incorpo- 
*^  rated  articles  are  ftriflly  Calvinian  :  yet  the  man  who 
*'  v.xuld  fay,  that  either  the  body  of  the  laity,  or  even  the 
*^  majority  of  the  public  teachers  are  Calvinifts,  ViOuId 
*^  expofe  himfeif  to  general  laughter.  Had  the  apologies 
^'  and  creeds  of  the  ancient  churches,  or  of  the  reformed 
*'  churches  at  the  asra  of  the  Reform.ation,  been  as  far 
^^  from  exprefhng  tlieir  real  religious  principles,  they 
'^  would  have  been  defervedly  treated  as  nefts  of  prevarica- 

''  tion  and  hypocrify." «*  Should  a   Chriftian  of  Ge- 

"  neva  read  the  doctrinal  articles  of  the  church  of  Ene- 
**  land,  and  compare  them  with  the  modern  fermiOns  of  the 
<'  bifliops,  and  the  greater  part  of  ecclefiaflics  in  that 
*'  church,  would  he  not  be  tempted  to  form^  fentim.ents 
"  very  difadvantageous  to  their  honedy  and  uprightnefs?'* 
■  Craham» 


OF    RELIGION.  97 

to  determine  what  they  are;  and  yet  until 
tbi.«.  be  done,  Chriftians  cannot  have  per- 
fect communion  together.  1  he  additions 
wl  ich  have  been  unwarrantably  made  to 
the  doclrines  and  worfliip  of  Chrift,  and 
wh  ch  have  been  fupported  by  civil  efta- 
bliiriments,  hinder  Chriftians  from  coming 
to  an  underftanding  on  this  head  ;  and  un- 
lefs  thefe  be  removed,union  and  communion 
in  the  church  are  hardly  to  be  expefted. 
Unfhackled  as  we  are  in  this  favored  chme, 
it  becomes  us  to  return  to  firil  principles, 
and  feek  direSion  of  the  fountain  of  all  wif- 
dom. 

By  the  efientials  of  religion  are  to  be  un- 
derftood,  thofe  things  which  are  neceflary 
to  be  believed  and  praftifed  in  order  to  fal- 
vation;  thofe  things  without  which  a  per- 
fon  cannot  be  faved. — Let  me  remark  here, 
that  a  perfon  may  believe  a  number  of  doc- 
trines, and  comply  with  certain  modes  of 
worfhip,  v/hile  at  the  fametime,  he  does  not 
hold  them  to  be  the  efientials  of  falvation. 
If  he  dods,  then  he  muft  exclude  every  one 


98  ESSENTIALS 

who  does  not  believe  and  praQife  exaftly 
as  he  does.  You  and  I,  my  brethren,  have 
received  a  certain  fyllem,  we  are  verily  con- 
vinced, that  it  is  founded  upon  the  unerring 
word  of  God,  we  teach  it  to  our  children, 
and  are  ready  to  give  a  reafon  of  our  faith 
to  all  men ;  but  this  is  totally  different  from 
maintaining  our  faith  and  praftice  in  all 
their  parts,  to  be  the  only  road  to  heaven. 
No  man  of  lefs  pride  and  arrogance  than 
the  Pope  himfelf  will  pretend  to  this.* 

There  are  only  thefe  three  ways  which 
occur  to  me,  by  which  we  can  judge  what 
are  the  cffentials  of  religion  : 

*  Every  perfon  who  is  acquainted  with  the  Author^ 
knows  that  he  profeiTes  to  believe  thofe  doctrines  called 
Calviniftic.  He  was  inftrufted  in  them  when  a  child  ; 
heftudiedthem  in  riper  years,  under  the  moil  approved 
mafters  ;  he  has  maintained  them  in  the  pulpit,  and  from 
the  prefs.  But  he  would  rfckon  himfelf  to  be  indeed  def- 
titute  of  a  Calvinifiic  fpirit,  and  to  have  received  the 
grace  of  God  in  vain,  did  he  fet  up  his  faith  as  the  flandard 
of  all  others,  and  rallily  condemn  thofe  who  cannot  be- 
lieve precifily  as  he  does.— Ye  wlio  are  of  a  different  pcr- 
iuafion,  let  one  v.-hom)'e  deem  of  the/? r/t7(?/^y<?^,  provoke 
vol]  to  charitv  and  liberalliv. 


OF    RELIGION.  99 

1.  THEfeleftingthofe  things  in  which  the 
generality  of  Chriftians  are  agreed.  Though 
they  differ  in  doftrines  and  modes  of  wor- 
ftiip,  yet  they  hold  certain  fundamentals, 
and  thefe  are  the  effentials  of  rehgion.  The 
matters  concerning  which  they  differ,  can*- 
not  be  effential,  unlefs  we  will  fay  that  the 
one  or  the  other  cannot  be  faved.     Even 
bigotry  itfelf  is  found  to  declare  a  charitable 
hope  for  fome  of  other  perfuafions ;   but 
where  is  this  hope  founded,  if  fuch  do  not 
believe  what  is  neceflary  to  falvation  ?   Lu- 
ther and  Calvin  differed  in  doftrines  of  con- 
fiderable  importance,  the  controverfy  was 
managed  with  heat ;   but  none  of  us   can 
doubt  that  Luther  and   Calvin  have  long 
fmce  embraced  in  heaven.     None  of  uswnll 
pronounce  who  of  them  has  the  highefl  feat 
in  glory. 

Another  w^ay  in  which  we  maybe  con- 
vinced that  the  effentials  of  religion  are  few, 
and  which  will  help  us  to  determine  what 
they  are,  is  by  attending  to  the  prejudices 
and  fmall  degree  of  knov/ledge  in  thofc 


100         '    ESSENTIALS 

whom  v/e  have  reafon  to'  believe  are  truly 
pious.   There  may  be  fome  truths  in  which 
they  are  not  v/ell  inftruaed,  and  to  which, 
from  their  education  and  circumftances   in 
life,  they  may  conceive  a  dilhke,  while  they 
are  aSuated  by  fincere  love  to  God   and 
faith  in  Chrift.    Thefe  vv'ords  of  the  Apoftle  - 
to  the  Corinthians,  plainly  teach  us,  that 
grace  may  confift  with   great  imperfection 
in  knowledge  ;   I  have  Jed  you  tvith  viilk,  and 
not  loith  meat :  for  hitherto  ye  were  not  able 
to  bear  it,  neither  yet  now  are  ye  able.     In  the 
Apcftolic  age,  perfons  were  received  into 
the  church,  and  deemed  believers  on  a  fum- 
mary  confefiion  of  faith  in  Chrill.  and  were 
afterwards  inftrufted  in   the  whole  counfel 
of  God.     What  was   abfolutely   necelTary 
was  at  firft  required,  and  other  tmths  were 
communicated   to  profeffors  according  to 
their    circumftances     and     ftrength.      As 
the  dcftrines  concerning  which   many  de-- 
nominations   difpute,   cannot   be  eflential^ 
fo  neither  thofe  of  which  perfons  apparently 
pious,  are  ignorant.   We  muft  take  into  the 


OF    RELIGION.  101 

account  only  fuch  in  which  there  is  a  gene- 
ral agreement,  and  which  conftitute  the  very 
effence  of  religion. 

A  Thip.d  and  principal  way  by  which 
the  church  is  to  be  guided  as  to  articles  of 
faith,  is  a  clofe  obfervance  of  the  precepts 
and  praftice  of  Chrift.and  his  Apoflles.  No 
other  terms  of  communion  ought  to  be  main- 
tained, than  thofe  which  they  clearly  autho- 
rize. Their  declarations  ought  to  be  held 
facred.  The  Apoftle  John  affures  us,  in 
the  words  of  the  text^thditwhofoever  believetfi 
that  Je/us  is  the  Chriji  is  born  of  God  ;  and 
if  fo,  Chrift  the  Head  of  the  family  acknow- 
ledges him,  and  the  Rewards  of  his  houfe 
may  not  refufe  the  provifion  which  he  hath 
made  for  his  children. 

Let  us  inquire  a  little  into  the  import 
of  this  general  declaration.  It  is  (hort,  but 
very  comprehenfive.  Though  it  be  given 
rather  as  a  mark  of  the  real  Chriftian,  yet  as 
fuch  an  one  muft  maintain  the  effentials  of 

N 


1C2  ESSENTIALS 

falvation,  it  will  lead  us  to  the  knowledge  of 
thefe.  There  is  neceffarily  contained  in  be- 
lieving that  Jefus  is  the  Chrift,  a  number  of 
truths  which  lie  at  the  foundation  of  all  true 
religion. 

First,  There  is  contained  a  belief  of  the 
fmful  flate  of  mankind,  andtheir  inability  to 
recover  themfelves.  If  they  are  not  fmners, 
or  if  they  can  by  any  means  make  repara- 
tion for  their  offences  againll  God,  there  is 
no  need  of  a  Saviour.  Such  perfons,  there- 
fore, v;ho  think  that  they  can,  by  following 
the  light  of  nature,  obtain  the  favour  of 
God,  do  confidently  enough,  rejecl  all  re- 
velation concerning  Chrifl,  as  an  impofition 
on  men.  Why  fhould  they  depend  upon 
another  for  what  they  can  do  for  themfelves? 
How  can  it  be  reconciled  with  the  wifdom 
of  God,  to  provide  a  way  of  redemption 
v/hich  is  wholly  unneceffary?  It  is  mofl  evi- 
dent that  a  confeiTion  of  guilt  before  God, 
and  which  unavoidably  expofes  us  to  his 
wrath,  is  effential  to  the  Chriflian  religion. 
The  zokole  have  no  need  of  a  phjician,  but 


OF     RELIGION.  103 

they  that  arejick,     Clirift  is  coini  tofave  that 
zvhich  was  lojl^  or  he  is  not  come  at  all. 

Secondly,  Whofoever  believes  the  fin- 
ful  and  helplefs  ftate  of  mankind,  muft,  in 
connexion,  believe,  that  falvation  proceeds 
merely  from  the  good  pleafure  of  God.  He 
is  free  and  fovereign  in  the  defign,  and  in 
the  execution  of  the  plan.  He  might,  with- 
out any  impeachment  of  his  juftice,  have 
left  all  to  perifli  in  their  fins  ;  yea,  his  juf- 
tice would  have  been  glorified  in  their  con- 
demnation. According  to  his  mercy,  hefaved 
us,  God  Jo  loved  the  world,  that  he  gave  his 
only  begotten  Son.  By  grace  are  ye  faved. 
The  gift  oj  God  is  eternal  life.  This  truth  is 
of  the  utmoft  importance,  as  it  tends  to 
humble  the  finner,  enhance  his  obligations, 
and  give  him  adoring  views  of  the  depth  of 
the  riches  both  of  the  wifdom  and  knoioledge  of 
God. 

Thips.I3Ly,  There  is  contained  in  believ- 
ing that  Jefus  is  the  Chrill,  an  acknowledg- 
ment, that  he  was  appointed  by  God  to  be 


104  ESSENTIALS 

a  Mediator,  and  that  he  hath  fully  accom- 
phfhed  his  work.  If  there  be  a  Saviour,  he 
had  a  divine  commiffion,  and  was  adequate 
to  what  he  undertook.  A  firm  perfuafion 
of  this,  is  abfolutely  neceffary  ;  for  we  w:ill 
not  place  confidence  in  one  of  whofe  ap- 
pointment and  abihty  we  are  doubtful. 
Thofe  called  Deifts  reckon  the  gofpel  a  cun- 
ningly devifed  fable,  and  the  Jews,  though 
they  believe  in  a  revelation,  yet  refufe  to 
fubmit  to  Jefus  of  Nazareth  whom  their  fa- 
thers crucified.  The  former  truft  in  their 
own  natural  pov/ers,  and  the  latter,  vrhile 
they  expeft  a  Deliverer,  difown  the  true  one. 
Both  are  to  be  excluded  from  mem.berfhip 
in  the  church,  becaufe  they  deny  what  forms 
the  foundation  of  all. 

It  is  proper  to  go  a  little  farther  here  and 
fay,  that  if  ChriR  hath  fully  accomplifiied 
falvation  for  finners,  he  hath,  in  their  place, 
fatisfied  all  the  demands  which  the  law  of 
God  had  againft  them.  It  puts  charity  to 
the  rack  to  believe  that  any  man  can  be  a 
Chriftian  who  denies  the  necellitv  and  eS- 


OF    R  ELIG  ION.  105 

cacy  of  the  atonement  of  Chrift;  who  does 
pot  receive- him  as  a'prieft,  as  well  as  a  pro- 
phet and  a  king.  What  was  the  fignifica- 
lion  of  all  the  facrifices  under  the  law  ?  Did 
they  not  point  to  the  Lamb  of  God,  vjhich 
taketh  away  the  Jin  of  the  world  P  What  is 
the  obvious  meaning  of  thefe  paiTagesof 
fcripture?  God  made  him  to  befinforiis;  and 
He  hare  our  fins  in  his  own  body  on  the  tree. 
Can  they,  without  wreRing  them,  mean  any 
thing  elfe,  than  that  Chrift  was  a  fubftitute, 
that  his  fufferings  were  accepted  of  God  for 
finners? 

We  muft  go  flill  farther.  If  Chrift  made 
an  atonement,  it  was  fuch  as  God  would  ac- 
cept ;  it  muft  have  been  infinite ;  and  this 
could  not  be,  unlefs  the  viftim  was  God.  If 
he  was  only  man,  where  was  the  merit  of 
his  fufferings  ?  Where  the  fatisfaftion  pro- 
portioned to  the  offence  ? — How  far  dark- 
nefs  and  fcruples  on  this  fubjeft  may  con- 
fiftwitha  gracious  heart,  is,  perhaps,  impof- 
fible  to  tell.     With  one  of  this  charaeler.  I 


io6  ESSENTIALS 

cannot  hold  communion  ;  but,  I  leave  him 
to  the  judgment  of  God.  Almighty  Father ! 
Thou  knoweft  our  frame,  and  remembereft 
that  we  are  duft !  By  thy  fentence,  we  muft 
Hand  or  fall! 

Fourthly,  Whofoever  believeth  that 
Jefus  is  the  Chrifl,  will  maintain  the  necef- 
lity  of  the  affiftance  of  the  holy  Spirit  to  be- 
gin and  perfevere  in  the  ways  of  righteouf- 
nefs.  This  is  conne6led  with  the  belief  of 
our  fpiritual  death;  and  ifwe  admit  the  one^ 
we  mud  admit  the  other.  To  affertthatno 
fupernatural  influence  is  neceffary  in  form- 
ing us  to  a  divine  temper,  is  to  oppofe  the 
method  of  falvation  by  Chrifl. 

Once  more.  To  believe  that  Jefus  is  the 
Chrifl,  is  to  receive  him  as  our  Saviour,  to 
make  open  confeflion  of  him,  by  an  attend- 
ance on  his  worihip,  and  obedience  to  his 
precepts.  This  is  not  fo  properly  an  article 
oF  faith,  as  it  is  the  confequence  of  the  be- 
lief Giihe  truths  before  mentioned,     Thefe 


OF    RELIGION.  107 

truths,  indeed,  may  be  profeffed,  when  they 
do  not  produce  obedience.  Why  call  ye  me. 
Lord,  Lord,  and  do  not  the  things  which  I  fay  ? 
But  then  the  faith  is  not  of  divine  operation ; 
it  is  not  accompanied  with  a  change  of 
heart. 

Whosoever  makes  confeffion  of  thefe 
truths,  and  evidences  his  fincerity  by  a  holy 
converfation,  is  born  of  God,  and  an  heir 
of  immortal  glory.  It  will  be  perceived, 
that  fucha  confeffion  is  the  natural  and  evi- 
dent confequence  of  faith  in  Jefus  ^s^the 
Chrifl.  In  the  prefent  ftate  of  the  churchy 
the  confeffion  is  not  fufficient,  which  is  li- 
mited  to  an  affent  to  the  fingle  and  general 
propofition.  Men,  by  not  attending  to  the 
difference  between  early  and  latter  days, 
may  deceive  themfelves  ;  and  they  may 
form  explanations  which  are  inadmiffible. 
On  the  other  hand,  it  is  equally  improper 
to  infift  upon  the  belief  of  doftrines  which 
have  been  long  and  ftrenuoufly  contefled. 
Let  us  take  thofe  things  in  which  tliere  is  a 
mutual  confent.     While  this  would  fix   a 


io8  ESSENTIAL  S 

ground  for  union,  it  is  perfeftly  confiftent 
with  every  one  holding  what  he  thinks  right 
in  matters  of  leffer  importance.  Chriftians 
ought  to  forbear  one  another,  to  pay  a  de- 
ference to  the  opinions  of  others,  as  v/ell  as 
to  their  own.  If  every  denomination  is  to 
contend  for  all  parts  of  their  creed,  who  is 
to  judge  betv/een  them ?  They  appeal  to 
fcripture,  and,  differing  in  their  interpreta- 
tions, who  will  dare  to  fay,  that  only  his 
party  has  found  the  truth?  Surely,  in  all 
ourftrife  about  orthodoxy,  we  ought  to  cul- 
tivate humility  and  charity. 

Let  it  not  befaid,  that  the  diftinguifliing 
thofe  principles  in  which  the  generality  of 
Chriftians  are  agreed,  is  incompatible  with 
the  neceihty  of  creeds ;  for  they  are  ftill  ufe- 
ful  in  preventing  doftrines  confeffedly  er- 
roneous; what  is  blaraeable,  is  the  enlarg- 
ing them  fo  as  to  include  things  concerning 
which  the  beft  and  wifeft  of  men  have  ever 
thought  differently.  Nor  ought  it  to  be  faid, 
that  in  forming  creeds  v*^e  may  not,  if  we 
would  avoid  difagreement,  dcfcend  to  ex- 


OF    RELIGION,  log 

planations ;  for  in  thcfe,  a  bond  of  exten- 
five  union  will  be  found.  Were  we  to  exa- 
mine the  creeds  of  the  greater  part  of  pro- 
feffing  Chriftians,  we  would  find,  that  though 
they  differ  in  words,  yet  there  is  a  very  ge- 
neral agreement  in  the  truths  which  have 
been  briefly  mentioned.  Even  in  the  church 
of  Rome,  the  mother  of  harlots  and  abomina- 
tions of  the  earthy  much  truth  is  found.  She 
does  not  err,  fo  much  in  a  denial  of  effen- 
tials,  as  in  her  numerous  and  impure  addi- 
tions.* 

What   then  has  made    fchifms   in  the 
church  ?  What  has  made  fuch  a  variety  in 

O 

*  Whoever  is  at  the  pains  to  compare  the  feveral  con- 
fefHons,  particularly  that  of  the  Protejiant  churches,  muft 
be  convinced  of  what  is  here  aflerted.  He  will  aflent  to 
thefe  words  of  a  learned  and  candid  writer  ;  "It  will 
"  be  evident  that  they  agree  not  only  in  the  clTential  foun- 
"  dations  of  religion,  but  in  all  the  principles  of  fpecial 
<^  moment  ;  and  that  thefe  which  any  of  them  differ  about, 
**  are  no  wife  comparable  to  the  others,  either  for  their 
*^  number  or  importance."— Dunlop's  Preface  to  the 
Weftminfter  ConfelTion, 


no  E  SSENTIALS 

the  faith  and  worfhip  of  Chriftians  ?  Is  it 
not  the  prefcribing  unneceffary  articles,  and 
the  prefcribing  them  under  worldly  pains  ? 
Here  is  the  great  miflake ;  not  the  prefcrib- 
ing terms  of  communion,  which  every 
church  may  do,  but  the  including  articles 
not  warranted  by  fcripture,  and  enforcing 
thefe  by  the  lofs  of  civil  privileges.  If  men 
were  left  to  judge  for  themfelves,  and  afl: 
according  to  their  light,  there  would  be  lefs 
error  and  greater  uniformity  among  Chrif- 
tians. The  great  doclrines  of  religion  will 
ever  fupport  themfelves  by  their  own  evi- 
dence. Truth  needs  only  an  equal  ad- 
vantage with  error,  to  gain  ap  eternal  vic- 
tory over  it. 

To  fee  the  fatal  effefts  of  forcing  men  in- 
to religious  fentiments,  read  the  hiftory  of 
the  church.  See  a  doftrine  at  one  time  ad- 
vocated, and  at  another  reprobated!  See 
the  author  of  it  at  one  time  careffed,  and  at 
another,  driven  into  banifhment,  or  put  to  a 
cruel  death !  Hear  it  demanded  of  the  he- 
retic bound  to  a  Itake, ''  Renounce,  or  you 


OF    RELIGION.  Ill 

*'  muft  burn !"  Turn  your  view  for  a 
moment  to  Popiili  countries,  and  behold 
men  under  the  neceflity  either  of  abandon- 
ing reafon  and  common  fenfe,  or  going  in- 
to the  grofleft  hypocrify,  or  fuffering  the 
dire  terrors  of  an  inquifition !  Behold  a 
ftrange  fcene  open  to  you  !  Infidelity  fetting 
its  mouth  againft  the  heavens !  This  thou 
haft  done,  O  fpiritual  tyranny  !  Long  haft 
thou  ufurped  the  throne  of  Jefus,  and  now, 
thou  haft  raifed  a  band  of  infidels,  who  would 
banifii  him  for  ever !  On  thy  total  over- 
throw ftiall  his  kingdom  be  eftabliftied  5 

The  fears  of  fome  ferious  perfons,  that 
without  the  aid  of  civil  eftabliftiments,  re- 
ligion will  decline,  are  groundlefs.  The 
hopes  of  infidels,  that  with  the  deftruftion 
of  thefe  eftablifhments,  Chriftianity  will  be 
abolifhed,  vrill  meet  w4th  certain  difappoint- 
ment.  They  (hall  know,  and  O  !  that  they 
may  know  it  in  mercy,  that  they  were  inftru- 
ments  in  the  hand  of  God,  to  prepare  the 
way  before  him.  New  they  do  not  believe 
that  Jefus  is  the  Chrift ;  and  if  they  perfift  in 


112  ESSENTIALS 

their  infidelity,  they  will  exclaim  with  the 
apoftate  Julian,  in  the  agony  .of  death, 
"  Thou  haft  conquered  me  O  Galilean!" 

In  thofe  places  where  the  church  is  un- 
happily incorporated  with  the  ftate,  it  is  im- 
poiTible  for  Chriftians  to  do  much  to  reform 
abufes.  The  attempt  would  be  called  rebel- 
lion^and  therefore^they  muft  wait  the  progrefs 
of  revolutions  to  wreft  from  princes  their  un- 
lawful fceptres.  But  in  our  nation  much 
flight  be  done,  if  God  gave  a  willing  mind, 
to  exhibit  original  Cliriftianity  to  the  v/orld. 
The  reafons  v/hich  operate  abroad  for  dif- 
ferent communions,  do  not  exift  here,  fave 
the  prejudices  which  have  been  imported, 
and  the  habits  of  thinking  occafioned  by 
former  connexions. 

Thefs^e  is  every  appearance  that  dreadful 
calamities  awa.it  foreign  nations,  efpecially 
thofe  which  have  been  in  alliance  with 
Rome,  and  which  llill  retain  a  portion  of  her 
fpirit.  If  v;e  would  efcape  their  plagues,  w^e 
muft  not  partake  of  their  fins.     We   muft 


OF    RELIGION.  113 

improve  the   opportunity  which  God  hath 
given  us,  in  removing  improper  diftinftions, 
healing  divifions,  and  preferving  entire  the 
body  of  Chrift,  which  is  his  Church.   Were 
the  feveral  denominations  to  relax  a  little  as 
to  fome  of  their  peculiar  tenets,  and  allow 
their  brethren  the  fame  liberty  which  they 
claim  for  themfelves,  an  union  would  not 
appear  to  be  imprafticable.     While,  how- 
ever, the  Epifcopalian  v/ill  infill  that  no  or- 
dination is  valid,  except  what  is  obtained  in 
the  mode  of  his  own  church  ;  the  Frefby- 
terian  infift   that  the   ufe   of  the  Common 
Prayer  3ook   is   unlavv^ful;   the  Dutch  re- 
formed Proteftant  infift  that   it  is  indifpen- 
fable  to  leciure  once  every  Lord's   day   on 
the  Heidelbergh   Catechifm,   and  fprinkle 
thrice  in    baptifm :   and   the  Baptift   deny 
the  validity  of  fprinkling,  or  of  any  baptifm 
except  what  is  adminiftred  to  adults  ;    while 
thus,    every  denomination   will   rigoroufiy 
make    their    diftinguiPning     feRtiments   or 
praftices,  terms  of  communion,  no  junftion 
can  take   place.     When  perfons   who  are 
not  willing  to  break  down  thefe   partition 


114  ESSENTIALS 

walls,  lament  the  divifions  among  Chriflians, 
and  talk  of  union,  it  is  all  grimace;  or  they 
mean  that  all  the  Chriftian  world  oug^ht  in 
eonfcience  to  embrace  their  fentiments, 
which  are  the  beft,  moftfcriptural,  and  cer- 
tainly infallible.*  But  union  will  be  the  par* 
licular  fubjeft  of  another  difcourfe,  if  it 
pleafe  God  that  we  meet  again.  Let  me 
conclude,  at  prefent,  with  exhorting  in  a 
few  words, 

1.  Those  who  have  never  believed  in 
Chrift,  to  an  immediate,  open,  and  fmcerc 
acknowledgment  of  him  as  their  Lord  and 
Saviour.  Unlefs  you  voluntarily  fubmit 
to  his  fceptre,  he  will  break  you  v/ith  a  rod 
of  iron.  All  enemies  fhall  be  put  under  his 
feet.  L^fidels  may  feoff,  but  Jefus  is  ordain- 
ed to  be  the  judge  of  the  world.  He  jhcill 
be  revealedfrovi  heaven  with  his  mighty  angels, 

'*  The  Author  does  not  mean  by  this  that  any  denomi- 
nation (howlJ,  contrary  to  the  light  of  their  own  minds, 
renounce  their  peculiar  fentiments  ;  but  only,  not  to 
ftamp  them  as  eilentials,  or  deem  them  of  fuch  importance 
as  to  hinder  Tome  itreneral  bond  ol  union. 


OF    RELIGION.  115 

injlaviing  fire,  taking  vengeance  on  the?n  that 
know  not  God,  and  that  obey  not  the  go/pel  of 
our  Lord  Jefus  Ckriji :  whojiiall  be  punijhed 
with  everlajling  deJlru[lion  from  the  prefence 
of  the  Lord,  and  from  the  glory  of  his  power, 
O!  be  alarmed  now,  and  flee  from  the 
wrath  to  come.  Come  unto  Chrifi,  that  ye 
may  find  reft  unto  your  fouls. 

Again,  Let  thofe  who  have  received 
Chrift,  be  aftive  in  his  fervice.  When  you 
fee  him  fo  greatly  difhonored  in  the  world, 
let  your  zeal  for  his  glory  be  inflamed.  Be 
not  difmayed  at  the  figns  of  the  times. 
Jefus  reigns.  Diftrufl:  not  his  power  and 
grace.  In  due  time,  his  kingdom  will  come. 
Yet  a  little  while,  and  he  that  fhall  come,  will 
come,  and  will  not  tarry,  .^  We  look  for  glo- 
rious days  of  the  Son  of  man  upon  this 
earth,  when  the  Jews  fliall  be  brought  in, 
with  the  fulnefs  of  the  Gentiles.  Thefe 
days  may  be  near  ;  but  if  not  feen  by  us, 
and  if  mankind  fliould  be  involved  in 
general  calamity  while  we  live,  let  us  wait 
upon  God,  and  exped  a  refl  beyond  the 
grave. 


DISCOURSE   V. 


UNITY    OF    THE    CHURCH. 


=^ts^= 


T.  CORINTHIANS  i.  13, 
Is  Christ  diVidjed  i 

X  HIS  queftion  contains  the  ftrongeft 
denial^  and  was  intended  to  ftrike  the  Co- 
rinthians with  the  great  impropriety  of  the 
divilions  among  them,-  Chrift  is  not  divid- 
ed. There  is  only  one  Saviour  whofe  doc- 
trine we  receive,  and  on  whofc  merits  we 
depend.     He  is  the  head,  believers  are  the 

P 


ii8  U    N    I    T    Y      OF 

members^  and  this  body  is  one  and  indi- 
vifible. 

The  Corinthians,  by  arranging  themfelves 
in  parties  under  different  leaders,  afted  as 
though  there  were  different  Chrifts,  diffe- 
rent communions,  and  different  ways  offal- 
vation  ;  whereas  thefe  were  the  fame  to  all ; 
and  from  this  confideration,  the  Apollle 
moft  folemnly  and  affectionately  exhorted 
them  to  union.  I  befeechyou,  brethren^  by  the 
name  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  that  ye  all 
fpeo.k  the  fame  thing,  and  that  there  be 
no  divifions  among  you,  but  that  ye  be  perfed- 
ly  joined  together  in  the  fame  mind,  and  in  the 
fame  judg7nen  t. 

Divisions  began  fo  early,  and  have  con- 
tinued fo  long  in  the  church,  that  many 
Chrillians  feem  not  to  think  them  an  evil ; 
at  leaft  they  are  confidered  as  unavoidable, 
and  attended  with  fpecial  advantages.  It  is 
alledged,  that  they  are  confiflent  with  all 
that  unity  of  the  church,  and  communion 
of  faints  which  are  to  be  expefled  in  this 
world.     A  promife  was  made,  fome  time 


THE      CHURCH.      119 

ago,  of  a  difcourfe  on  this  fubjeft,  which  ap- 
pears to  me  in  a  very  ferious  and  important 
light,  as  being  one  to  which  our  attention 
is  peculiarly  called  by  thcjigns  of  the  times. 
Let  me  entreat  you,  my  brethren,  to  hear 
with  candour,  and  to  help  me  with  your 
prayers.  I  fliall,  firfl,  fhow  that  the  union 
of  profeffing  Chriftians  is  defirable  and  at- 
tainable ;  and  then,  point  out  fome  of  the 
hinderances  of  it,  and  anfwer  the  principal 
objeftions  which  have  beenraifed  againlt  it. 

The  church  mull,  from  the  nature  of 
things,  be  compofed  of  many  different  fo- 
cieties.  The  members  are  not  all  of  the 
fame  nation,  or  language,  they  cannot  all 
affemble  together  in  the  fame  place.  They 
are  obliged,  for  the  fake  of  convenience  and 
order,  to  divide  themfelves  into  fmall  and 
particular  focieties.  This  is  the  cafe  of  thofe 
who  are  moft  clofely  united,  and  who  come 
under  one  general  denomination;  but  as 
this  does  not  break  the  union  of  that  deno- 
mination, fo  the  whole  number  of  Chriftians 
throughout  the  world  form,  only  one  body. 


120  U    N    I    T    Y     OF 

If  we  liken  the  church  to  a  houfe,  it  may  be 
faid,  thax  numerous  as  the  apartments  are, 
it  is  but  one  houfe ;  if  to  an  empire,  it  has 
feveral  provinces  ;  if  to  an  army,  though  it 
confift  of  many  divifions,  and.  various  na- 
tions, yet  it  is  enlifted  under  one  Captain, 
and  engaged  in  one  caufe.  Such  is  the 
doftrine  of  Chrift  and  his  Apoftles.  Though 
we  read  of  churches  in  particular  places, 
ye«t  they  were  all  colleftively  confidered  as 
one  church,  and  which  the  Apoftle  defcribes 
by  all  that  in  every  place  call  upon  the  nayne 
of  jcfiis  Chrifi  our  Lord^  both  theirs  and 
oiirsJ^ 

We  are  early  taught  to  fay,  *•  I  believe  an 
^'  holy  Catholic  Church."  Catholic  is  general 

*  The  unity  of  the  church  is  well  exprefled  in  the  H- 
"beral  Preface  to  the  Conllitution  of  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church.  "  The  various  denominations,  or  defcriptions 
*'  oi  particular  churches,  under  which,  from  many  un- 
"  avoidable  circumHances  of  language,  nation,  or  other 
*'  caufes  of  diftin6tion,  believers  are  clalTed,  do  not  afFe6l 
''  any  fchifm  in  the  body,  or  deflroy  the  communion  of 
''  faints/' 


THE      CHURCH. 


121 


or  univerfal',  and  this  part  of  the  creed  is 
explained  in  our  Catechifm  to  mean,  "  That 
"  the  Son  of  God,  from  the  beginning  to 
''  the  end  of  the  world,  gathers,  defends,  and 
''  preferves  to  himfelf  by  his  Spirit  and  word, 
"  out  of  the  whole  human  race,  a  church 
''  chofen  to  everlafting  life,  agreeing  in  true 
''  faith."  And  again,  it  is  declared  in  o-ur 
ConfefTion  of  Faith,  that  ''  This  holy  church 
"  is  not  confined,  bound,  or  limited,  to  a 
'*  certain  place,  or  to  certain  perfons,  but  is 
"  fpread  and  difperfed  over  the  whole 
"  world,  and  yet  is  joined  and  united  with 
*^  heart  and  will,  by  the  power  of  faith  in 
*'  one  and  the  fame  fpirit."*  All  Chriftians, 
therefore,  being  really  united  as  members  of 
the  fame  body,  ought  to  preferve  a  mutual 
efteem  and  afFeftion.  Particular  churches 
ought  to  extend  their  ca^e  to  their  filler 
churches,  toy^^^  not  their  own  profit,  hut  the 
profit  of  many,  and  to  teftify  by  certain  afts, 
whenever  circumfl:ances  v/ill  admit,  that 
they  all  belong  to  the  general  church.     To 

*  Heidel.  cat.  queft.  54.  Art.  27. 


122  UNITY        OF 

purfue  only  the  religious  intereft  of  their 
own  community,  is  party-fpirit,  and  not  that 
love  which  the  gofpel  infpires.  True  love 
endeavours  to  promote  the  common  wel- 
fare of  Chrill^s  kingdom. 

How  frequently  and  earneftly  does  the 
Apoflle  Paul  enjoin  union  upon  the  firft 
churches  !  Hear  his  words  in  the  beginning 
of  the  4th  chapter  of  the  Epiille  to  the 
Ephefians.  I  therefore,  the  prifoner  of  the 
Lord,  befeech  y-oxc,  that  ye  walk  worthy  of 
ijie  vocation  vMercxcith  ye  are  called,  zvith  all 
lowlinefs  and  meeknefs,  with  longfiifferivg, 
forbearing  one  another  in  love  ;  endeavouring 
to  keep  the  unity  of  the  Spirit  in,  the  bond  of 
peace.  There  is  one  body  and  one  Spirit,  even 
as  ye  are  called  in  one  hope  of  your  calling  ; 
one  Lord,  one  faith,  one  bapt2fni,  one  God,  and 
Fq.ther  of  all,  who  is  above  all,  and  through 
all,  and  in  you  all.  We  find  him  farther,  in 
the  15th  and  16th  verfes,  in  order  to  enforce 
union,  comparing  the  church  to  a  natural 
body.  The  head,  even  ChrtPv^from  whom  the 
whole  body  fitly  joined  together,  a.nd  covipaEed 


THE      CHURCH.      123 

by  that  zohich  every  joint  fupplieth,  according 
to  the  effediial  loorking  in  themeafure  of  every 
part,  maketh  increafe  of  the  body,  unto  the  edi- 
fying of  iff  elf  in  love.  The  fame  comparifon 
is  ufed  in  the  12th  chapter  of  his  Epilile  to 
the  Romans.  We  being  many,  are  one  body  in 
Chrijt,  and  every  one  rtiembers  one  of  another. 
Hear  likewife  his  tender  addrefs  in  the  be- 
ginning of  the  2d  chapter  of  the  Epiftle  to 
the  PhiHppians.  If  there  be,  therefore,  any 
conf option  in  Chrifi,  if  any  comfort  of  love,  if 
anyfelloivfiip  of  the  Spirit,  if  any  bowels  and 
mercies^  fulfil  ye  my  joy,  that  ye  be  like-mind- 
ed, having  the  fame  love,  being  of  one  accord^ 
of  one  mind.  It  cannot  be  faid  v/iih  any 
juftice,  that  thefe  exhortations  of  the  Apoftle 
apply  only  to  union  and  harmony  in  parti- 
cular churches ;  for,  the  fame  reafon  why 
Chriftians  fliould  maintain  union  in  a  parti- 
cular church,  is  good  likewife  for  maintain- 
ing union  among  all  the  particular  churches, 
in  one  general  church.  Who  fhall  fay,  hov/ 
large  one  denomination  of  Chriftians  fhall 
be,  before  they  form  an  entire  feparation  ? 
Who  fliall  draw  the  line  of  divifion,  or  fay 


124  UNITY      OF 

in  what  way  the  body  is  to  be  cut  into 
pieces?  If  one  denomination  may  confiftof 
numerous  particular  churches,  and  it  be 
the  duty  of  thefe  to  cukivate  a  correfpond- 
ence,  and  conneft  themfelves  by  fome  vifible 
bond  of  union,  will  any  man  pretend  to  fay, 
that  a  correfpondence  and  union  are  not  de- 
firable,  and  cannot  take  place  in  a  manner 
llill  more  extenfive  ?  If  they  cannot,  then 
the  body  is  divided  contrary  to  the  plain 
declarations  of  fcripture ;  for,  to  fay  that 
Chriilians  are  united  when  they  have  not, 
and  ought  not  to  feek  any  external  inter- 
courfe  with  one  another,  is  to  fay,  that  parts 
which  are  never  joined,  conftitute  a  whole, 
or  that  love  can  exift  where  there  is  no  ex- 
change of  kind  offices. 

The  praflice  of  Chriflians  in  feparating, 
and  excludino[  one  another  from  commu- 
nion,  is  directly  oppofed  to  the  unity  of  the 
church,  and  is  not  founded  on  the  writings 
of  the  Apoflles.  Befides  the  injunctions 
already  mentioned,  we  are  warned  to  mark 
and  avoid  thofe  loho  caufc  divijions.     Were  a 


THE      CHURCH.      125 

heathen  nation  to  receive  the  gofpel,  they 
would  not  conclude  from  any  thing  in  the 
New  Teftament,  that  it  was  their  duty, 
whenever  their  religious  focieties  increafed, 
to  become  totally  unconnefted ;  but  on  the 
contrary,  that  though  they  were  obliged  to 
form  many  congregations,  yet  they  con- 
tinued to  be  one  body  united  to  the  fame 
Saviour,  and  to  one  another.  They  would 
read  of  churches  being  planted  in  different 
places,  of  the  Apoftle  having  the  care  of  all 
the  churches,  of  one  church  receiving  the 
members  of  another,  on  recommendation  ; 
and  they  mufl  necelfarily  think,  that  ajl 
were  eftablifhed  in  the  fame  do£irine  and 
worfhip  We  mull  believe  then,  that  the 
union  of  the  members  of  the  church  is  de- 
firable  and  attainable;  for,  otherwife,  it 
would  not  be  fo  frequently  and  earnedly  en- 
joined. Let  us  inquire  now,  what  are  the 
hinderances  of  it, 

1.  Ecclesiastical  eftablifliments  have 
been  a  great  hinderance.  Bythefe  certain  ax- 


126  U    N    I    T    Y     OF 

tides  of  faith,  and  ufages  inworfhip  are  pre- 
fcribed  as  abfolutely  neceffary  to  commu- 
nion. Thofe  who  cannot  comply  are  con- 
feqiiently  call  out,  and  laid  under  the  ne- 
ceffity  of  erefting  a  feparate  communion, 
and  thus  a  divifion  is  produced.  The 
church  of  Rome  would  not  fuffer  the  Re- 
formers to  continue  wath  her.  She  cruelly 
enforced  her  belief  and  praftice  by  torture 
and  death.  The  charge  of  fchifm  refts  up- 
on her,  and  not  upon  the  Proteftants.  Hap- 
py had  it  been  for  Proteftants,  had  they  pur- 
fued  a  different  courfe,  and  not  eftablifhed 
their  forms  of  religion ;  had  they  renounced 
the  fpirit  as~well  as  the  fuperftition  of  Rome. 
By  not  doing  this,  union  and  a  greater  uni- 
formity among  them  was  prevented  from 
taking  place.  Different  forms,  all  alike 
eflablifhed  by  human  laws,  could  not  ap- 
proach one  another.  Error  once  enthron- 
ed, withftoodthe  attacks  of  reafon  andfcrip- 
ture.  To  thofe  w^ho  could  not  confcien- 
tioufly  conform,  there  was  no  remedy  but 
by  a  diffent.  Much  as  the  worthy  Reform- 
ers lamented  and  endeavoured  to  heal  the 


THE     CHURCH.      127 

differences,  yet  fuch  was  the  flate  of  things, 
and  fuch  influence  had  civil  on  religious 
concerns,  as  to  hinder  an  accommodation. 
Councils  and  conferences  were  held  to  little 
purpofe,  and  this  muft  be  the  cafe  until 
eftablifliments  are  overthrown. 

Another  hinderance  of  union  is  a  dif- 
ference between  Chriftians  about  matters 
not  effential.     They  do  not  confider  that 
union  is  confident  with  a  diverfity  of  opi- 
nion about  many  things,  provided  that  they 
agree  in  great  and  leading  principles.  Who 
differed  more  widely  than  the  Jewifh  and 
Gentile  converts  ?  Does  the  Apoftle  advife 
them  to  a  feparation?  No:  He  fliows  them, 
that  there  was  no  foundation  for  their  con- 
tention and  uncharitable  cenfures.     Seeing 
both  parties  acied  according  to  their  light, 
and  the  diftates  of  their  confcience,  there 
was  nothing  in  either  of  their  fentiments,  on 
fubjefts  fo  trivial,  inconfiflent  with  true  re- 
ligion.    He  exhorts  them,  therefore,  not  to 
obtrude  their  opinions  on  each  other,  and 
to  continue  in  communion  together.    Hm 


128  UNITY 


O  F 


that  is  weak  in  the  faith  receive  ye,  bid  not  to 
doubtful  difpiitations.  For  one  believeth  that 
he  viay  eat  all  things :  another  who  is  weak^ 
eateth  herbs.  Let  not  kim  that  eateth  defpife 
him  that  eateth  not;  and  let  not  him  which 
eateth  not  judge  him  that  eateth  ;  for  God  hath 
received  him.  Who  art  thou  that  judgefl 
another  mansfervant  ?  To  his  oion  mafler  he 
fiandeth  orfalleth.  Though  in  the  church 
of  Corinth,  there  were  philofopher^,  rheto- 
ricians, and  judaizing  teachers,  each  of 
whom  had  their  pecuhar  fentiments  and 
cuftoms,  and  w^hich  occafioned  the  conten- 
tion among  them,  yet  we  find  how  feverely 
the  Apoflle  reproved  them,  and  how  au- 
thoritatively he  warned  them  againfl  a  fepa- 
ration. 

If  any  fay,  that  to  inculcate  union,  while 
there  is  a  difference  in  faith  and  praftice,  is 
to  avow  latitudinarian  principles,  they  may 
be  told  that  an  infpired  Apoftle  is  an  excel- 
lent guide.  Surely  w^e  may  be  as  liberal  as 
he  v;a3;  we  may  teach  what  he  taught;  for 


THE      C    H     U     R     C    H.       129 

xjohat  he  received  of  the  Lord,  he  hath  delivered 
unto  us. 

Perhaps,  a  principal  miflake  on  the  fub- 
jeft  of  union,  is  an  opinion  that  it  cannot 
exift  without  perfett  uniformity.  Was  the 
primitive  church  uniform  ?  Did  the  Jews 
and  Gentiles  perfeflly  agree  in  their  doc- 
trines and  ceremonies?  Has  the  church 
been  uniform  at  any  period  fince  the  publi- 
cation of  the  gofpel  ?  Where  is  the  parti- 
cular denomination  this  day  upon  earth,  in 
which  all  the  members  exaftly  agree  in 
doftrine  and  m.ode  of  conducting  public 
worfliip  ?  Are  not  particular  congregations 
of  the  fame  denomination  found  to  differ 
more  from  one  another,  than  the  denomi- 
nation itfelf  differs  from  fome  other  deno- 
mination ?*  Does,  or  ought  this  difference  to 


*  The  two  refpedable  Dutch  congregations  of  New- 
York  and  Albany,  differ  as  to  their  cuftoms  in  public 
worlhip.  The  difference  is  ot  no  confequence,  and  would 
not  be  me-ntioned,  did  it  not  prove  my  affertion,  •  At  Al- 
bany, the  maks  and  females  fit  in  feparate    feats  in  ths 


230  UNITY       OF 

occafion  the  necelTity  of  a  divifion?  Then 
the  church  of  Chiifl  niuft  be  torn  into  m- 
numerable  parts.  It  is  a  miflake,  my 
brethren,  which  has  been  ruinous,  to  think 
that  uniformity  is  neceffary.  The  church 
never  v/as  uniform,  nor  can  we  fay  that  it 
v;ill  be  entirely  fo,  even  in  its  moil  glorious 
fiatein  this  world.  National  eltablifliments 
inflead  of  producing  uniformity  and  union, 
have  caufed  variety  and  divifion.  What  was 

church.  The  clerk  begins  the  fervlce  vvith  reiding  the 
ten  commandments;,  or  the  creed  ;  then  a  praaii  is  fnng  ; 
after  this,  he  reads  the  chapter  out  of  which  the  minlfter 
has  chofen  his  text ;  when  this  is  ended,  another  pfalm  is 
fung,  and  the  minifter  rifes.  The  collection  for  the  poor 
is  made,  as  in  many  other  Dutch  church.es,  in  time  of  the 
fermon.  None  of  thefe  cuftorns  are  exadly  followed  in 
the  congregation  at  New-York  ;  for  though  it  is  ufual 
with  theclerk  to  read  a  chapter,  and  fonietimes  the  ten 
commandments,  yet  the  fame  mode  and  order  of  intro- 
ducing the  fcrvice  is  not  obferved.  Do  not  congregations 
then  of  the  fam.c  name,  diiier  more  from  one  another  in 
thefe  fmall  matters,  than  any  of  tliem  differ  from  the 
Prefoyterian  congregations  r  Surely  thefe  things  are  not 
cfTential  to  comimunion.  The  perfons  muft  be  contradled 
and  bigoted  in  a  great  degree,  who  would  infill  upon,  or 
v,'ho  would  refufe  to  comply  with  either  of  them. 


THE      C    H    U    Pv    C    H.      131 

the  efFeft  of  the  a6i  paffed  in  England  under 
the  reign  of  Elizabeth?  A  confiderable 
body  feparated  from  the  eftablifhed  church. 
What  evil  might  have  been  prevented,  had 
this  direflion  of  the  Apoflle  been  duly  re- 
garded !  Let  every  man  be  fully  perfuaded  in 
his  own  mind.  Chriflians  will  approach 
much  nearer  to  uniformity,  when  eflablifh- 
ments  are  abolifhed,  when  no  compulfive 
meafures  are  ufed,  and  when  rehgion  is  left 
to  fupport  itfelf  by  its  own  evidence  and 
excellence.  But  if  uniformity  (hould  never 
take  place,  it  ought  not,  and  it  will  not  hin- 
der the  union  of  Chriflians,  when  other 
obftacles  are  removed.  It  is  evident  from 
thefe  words  of  the  Apoflle  in  the  3d  chapter 
of  the  Epiflle  to  the  Philippians,  the  35th 
and  16th  verfes,  that  only  an  agreement  in 
fundamental  truths  is  neceiTary;  Let  us 
therefore,  as  many  as  be  perfed,  be  thus  rrdnd- 
ed  ;  and  fin  any  thing  ye  be  otherwife  mind* 
ed,  God  fiall  reveal  even  this  unto  you. 
Neverthelefs,  -whereto  zoe  have  already  at-' 
tained,  let  us  walk  by  the.  fame  rule,  let  us 
mind  the  fame  thing.  lam  thus  particu- 
lar in  quoting  the  place  where  thefe  words 


132  U    N    I    T    Y      OF 

are  found,  that  your  attention  may  be  fixed 
upon  them,  that  you  may  weigh  them  at 
your  leifure,  that  you  may  apply  for  afFift- 
ance  to  what  commentators  you  pleafe  ;  and 
if,  upon  full  confideration,  you  judge  that 
thev  teach  what  is  here  alTerted,  then  I  be- 
feech  you  to  yield  that  reverence  and  obe- 
dience which  are  due  to  divine  infpiration. 
Let  me  mention, 

OxMCE  MORE,  The  prejudices,  pafTioiis^ 
and  interefts  of  men,  as  being  oppofed  to 
union.  The  favorable  opinion  which  a  party 
imbibes  of  itfelf,  and  the  unfavorable  one 
which  it  entertains  of  others,  the  pride 
which  is  fo  natural  to  men,  and  their  attach- 
ment to  real  or  imaginary  intereft,  often 
raife  a  ftrong  barrier.  Thefe  are  efpecially 
nurfed  under  eflablifhments,  where  one  feci 
receives  the  exclufive  favour  of  civil  go- 
vernment, and  is  promoted  to  places  of 
honour  and  profit.  Indeed,  there  have  been 
always  thofe  in  the  church,  who  to  advance 
their  own  intereO:  and  reputation,  have 
made  and  coniinaed  fchifms.  Who  is  not 
grieved  to   find   chargeable  with  this,  evea 


THE      CHURCH.       133 

the   preachers  of    the  gofpel    of    peace? 
"  Searching    the     ancient    hiflories/*    fays 
Jerome,  "  1  can  find  none  that  hath  more 
"  rent  the  church  of  God  thao  thofe  that 
"  fuftain  the  office  of  Minilkrs."  I  hefe  too 
often  begin  divifions,  and  cherifh   the   pre- 
judices  of  men,  merely  from  felfifli   views. 
Though  it  is  much  eafier  to  make  a  breach 
than  to  heal  it,  and  men  cannot  fuddenly 
divefl  themfelves  of  ways  of  thinking   to 
which  they  have  been  early  and  long  habi- 
tuated ;   yet,  were   their  leaders  more  up- 
right, did  they  (ludy  the  glory  of  God  more, 
and  their  own  lefs,  prejudices   would  gra- 
dually vanini.     The   influence  of  the  pub- 
lit:   teachers    of  religion   m   directing   the 
minds  of  their  hearers,   is   great ;    and   the 
maxim  is  generally  true,  That  fuch  as  is  the 
minifter,  fuch  is  the  people. 

These  things  which  have  been  mentioned, 
appear  to  be  the  chief  hinderances  of  union 
among  profeffing  Chriftians.  The  radical 
evil  is   eftablifliments;   for,  wherever  thefe 

R 


J34  U    N    I    T    Y      ot 

are,  the  other  things  will  follow;  and 
wherever  thefe  are  aboliPned,  and  the  people 
left  to  think  and  choofe  for  themfelves,  pre- 
judices wear  off,  and  a  greater  liberality  and 
uniformity  are  introduced.  Let  me  appeal 
to  the  condition  of  the  church  in  this  coun- 
try. Here  are  no  eftabhrhments ;  and  what 
is  the  confequence?  Union  between  diSFe- 
rent  denominations  hts  been  effefted ;  cor- 
relpondence  between  others  is  maintained ; 
and  former  jealoufies  and  contentions  fub- 
fide^."^  Can  fuch  a  hierarchy  as  is  in  England 
be  found  here  ?  Is  the  government  of  the 
Epifcopai  church  more  than  a  flep  diflant 
from  Prefbyterian  equahty?  Is  the  exclu- 
five  validity   of  Epifcopai  ordination   any 


*  The  Author  refers  t€>  the  union  of  the  AfTociatc  and 
Reformed  Pefbyteries  under  the  name  of  **  The  AlTociate 
**  Reformed  Synod  ;"  to  the  union  of  the  Prefbyterian 
Churches  and  the  Congregational  Churches  in  Connedi- 
cut  \  and  to  the  brotherly  corrcfpondence  between  the 
Prclbyterian,  Scotch  Prefbyterian,  and  Reformed  Dutch 
churches ;   of  all  which,  fee  more  in  the  Appendix. 


THE      CHURCH.      135 

more  than  the  dream  of  a  few  not  thorough- 
ly awaked  out  of  their  fleep?  * 

It  is  to  be  confeffed,  that  obflacles  in  the 
way  of  union  Ilill  remain,  principally  arifing 
from  the  millakes,  prejudices,  and  interells 
of  men  ;  but  thefe  will  he  deftroyed  by  in- 
creafing  bght,  and  efpecially  by  the  pre- 
valence of  the  power  of  religion,  whenever 

*  Wc  fee  verified  in  this  country,  thefe  words  of  Mn 
Graham,  in  his  "  Review,"  5cc.  **  Take  away  from  the 
<*  diocefan  bifhop,  all  that  incorporations  give  him, — his 
"  title,  his  extravagant  revenue,  his  fecular  authority,  and 
**  his  confequence  as  a  peer  ot  the  realm,  none  of  all 
"  which  the  Chriftian  religion  gives  him  ;  and  he  will  be 
**  left  fo  naked,  fo  like  one  of  his  own  Prefbyters,  that 
"  even  the  moft  fnarling  advocate  for  parity  will  not  bark 
'^  at  him.  It  is  civil  authority  only  which  befiows  upon 
"  him  all  that  raifes  him  above  the  Apoflolical  Bifhop, 
<*  whom  Paul  alfo  calls  by  the  lefs  dignified  title  of  Pref- 
**  bytcr."-— The  grcateft  difficulty  as  to  a  connc(51ion  be- 
tween Epifcopalians  and  Prefbyterians,  appears  to  be  a  re- 
maining prejudice  with  a  few  on  one  fide,  about  the  mode 
of  ordination.  The  Prefbyterians  are  liberal  on  this  fub- 
je(^;  an  inPiance  of  which  they  gave,  by  admitting  into 
their  pulpits  that  extraordinary  and  eminently  ufeful  man^ 
the  Reverend  Mr.  Georee  White  field. 


236  U    N    I    T    Y      OF 

it  fhall  pleafe  God  to  pour  out  his  Spirit  up- 
on us.  It  is  time  now  to  anfwer  fome  of  the 
objeflions  v/hich  are  broijght  againll  an 
union  of  different  defcriptions  of  profelTing 
Chriflians. 

1,  It  is  faid,  that  fpecial  advantages  re- 
fult  from  their  divifions ;  fuch  as,  that  they 
watch  over  one  another,  and  provoke  one 
another  to  greater  zeal  and  fidelity  in  the 
propagation  and  prefervation  of  the  truth. 
'I  his  objeftion  proceeds  on  the  fuppofition 
that  difunion  is  no  fin,  and  is  not  forbidden 
in  the  word  of  God  ;  for,  if  it  be  a  fin,  no 
advantages  which  Providence  is  pleafed  to 
bring  out  of  it,  can  juflify  it.  But  I  have 
enaeavoured  to  fhow,  that  it  is  defiruftive  of 
the  unity  of  the  church,  and  forbidden  by 
the  divine  command.  Befides,  thofe  who 
make  this  objection  ought  to  put  in  the  ba- 
lance with  the  pretended  good,  the  evils 
which  enfue.  They  ought  to  weigh  the 
triumph  which  the  (eparations  of  Chriflians 
give  infidels,  the  cojitrafted  and  uncharitable 
notions  v/hich  they  beget  among  profefTors 


THE      C     H     U     R     C    H.      137 

themfelves,  and  the  bitteruefs,  wrath,  envy- 
ings,  and  flrife  which  they  occafion.  Let  it 
be  added,  that  the  advantages  which  are 
mentioned,  can  all  be  better  enfured  by  a 
ftate  of  union:  There  will  be  the  fame 
watchful  care,  and  drift  attention  to  truth 
among  the  members  of  the  church.  There 
ever  will  be  redrefs  for  herefy  and  imm.oral 
praftice  before  the  proper  judicatories,  un- 
lefs  we  can  fuppofe  that  Chrift  fliall  be  with- 
out witncfTes  in  the  world.  There  will  be 
greater  certainty  for  the  prefervation  of 
purity  in  the  whole  body  by  union ;  for  if 
the  pure  feparate,  what  is  to  become  of  the 
impure?  They  will  be  as  fait  zvkzchkas  loft 
its  favour  and  is  good  for  nothivg,  but  to  be 
cafl  out,  and  to   be  troddxn  under  foot    cf 


men.^ 


*  "  Dr.  Hopkins,  in  his  Trcatifc  on  ti-  Millennium, 
fpeaking  of  the  opinion,  ''  that  difference  in  religious  fen- 
*'  timents  and  modes  of  worfhip,  is  attended  ^^ith  no  in- 
**  convenience,  but  is  rather  defirablc,  and  advantageous  ; 
^*  and  that  all  the  union  required,  or  that  can  take  place, 
"  is  that  of  kind  aifed'^ion,  love  and  charity,"  fiiyr,  *'  Such 
^*  fcntiinents  ::s  thefe  are  not  agreeable  to  reafc  n  or  fcrin- 


158  U     N    I    T    Y       or 


O 


Another  objeftion  to  union  is,  that  it 
is  imprafticable,  becauie  of  the  variety  „of 
opinions  and  culioms  among  the  feveral  de- 
nominations. To  invahdate  this,  it  has  been 
{liOWUy  that  uniformity  is  not  neceffary. 
Hardly  two  perfons  can  be  found  in  the 
world,  who  are  agreed  in  every  point  of  re- 
ligion. There  is  indeed  frequently  fuch  a 
diiagreemenc  as  to  render  communion  im- 

^^  ture."  Hs  thinks,  that  in  the  Millennium,  '*  there  will 
^^  be  a  great  and  general  union  in  the  belief  and  pracflice 
"  oi  the  truth  ;"  that  men  will  "  be  united  in  fentiments 
^'  and  praclice,  fo  as  to  form  a  beautiful,  happy  union 
*'  and  harmony;  which  will  put  an  end  to  the  variety  and 
"  oppofition  of  opinions  and  practices  which  now  divide 
"  profefTmg  Chriiiians  into  fo  many  feels,  parties,  and 
*'  denominations."  So  far  as  he  means  that  they  will  be 
united  in  great  and  leading  truths,  live  in  harmony  and 
com.munion  together,  he  is  undoubtedly  right ;  but  whe- 
ther there  will  be  entire  uniformity,  is  a  queflicn.  In  my 
opinion,  it  is  not  neceffary.  There  will  be  different  capa- 
cities and  different  degrees  of  light  then  as  well  as  now  ; 
but,  when  under  the  povvcrful  influence  of  the  Spirit,  there 
"tvill  be  mutual  forbearance ;  they  will  inquire  and  be 
taught ;  whereunto  they  have  already  attained,  they  will 
w?ik  by  the  fame  rule,  thev  will  mind  the  fame  thins:. 


THE      CHURCH.       139 

poffible ;  for  inflance,  when  perfons  differ 
in  articles  which  they  fuppofe  to  be  funda- 
mental or  neceffary  to  falvation.  There  is 
again  fuch  a  difagreement  in  important 
doftrines  and  external  forms  of  worfliip, 
as  to  render  an  union  in  the  fame  fociety 
improper,  while  there  may  be  fome  general 
intercourfe  eilabliflied,  and  occafional  com- 
munion admitted.  But  wnth  refpefi:  to  all 
thofe,  whofe  differences  are  of  lefs  mom.ent, 
though  they  may  be  exceedingly  various, 
yet  there  is  nothing  to  hinder  them  from  be- 
coming full  and  constant  members  oF  the 
fame  church.  We  can  conceive  likewife  of 
a  bond  of  union,  and  each  denomination  re- 
main at  the  fame  time  diilinft.  A  perfeft 
union  even  among  thofe  moft  nearly  agreed, 
is  what  no  one  w^ould  think,  in  the  prefent 
ftate  of  things,  either  advifeable,  orpoiTible, 
There  is  a  middle  way  between  a  total  coa- 
lition, and  a  total  feparation. — The  famous 
Synod  of  Dort  was  compofed  of  divines  not 
only  from  the  United  Provinces,  but  alfo^ 
from  England,  Scotland,  the  States  of  Bran- 
denburgh^  Switzerland,   Geneva,  the  Pali- 


140  U    N    I    T     Y 


o  i 


tinate,  Bremen  and  Embden.  How  vener- 
able the  council!  How  beneficial  their  pro- 
ceedings !  Jefus  the  head  of  the  church,  ap- 
proved their  deiigns,  and  fuccecded  their  la- 
bours.— Let  me  repeat,  that  a  perfect  union 
or  incorporation,  is  wdiat  no  vrife  man  would 
think  either  practicable  or  necelfary  ;  but 
that  one  might  be  formed,  and  tlie  peculia- 
rities of  every  denomination  be  preferved 
inviolate.  This  is  fubmitted  as  my  opinion; 
and  if  condemned  by  wifer  and  more  ex- 
perienced, men,  let  it  be  charitably  called  an 
error  of  the  head,  and  not  of  the  heart. 
Let  the  righteous  Jviite  me,  li^Pialt  be  a  kind- 
ncfs  ;  and  let  him  reprove  vie,  it  fhall  be  an  ex- 
cellent  oil,  zoJdcIi  fliall  not  break  riy  head.  I 
plead  in  my  juftincation  the  opinion  of  the 
good  and  the  wife  who  have  always  lament- 
ed the  divifions  of  Chriflians,  and  at  diffe- 
rcnttimes  ufed  their  moft  Ilrenuous  exertions 
to  heal  them.  Attempts  v^ere  made  at  the 
Reformation,  and  attempts  liave  been  miade 
fincc,  but  tiicy  v/ere  made  againft  frrincipa- 
titles  andpG-coers.  and  therefore,  proved  un- 
fsiccefsuil. 


THE      CHURCH.      141 

It  is  difficult  to  fay,  how  far  union  ought 
to  be  extended,  or  what  ought  to  be  the  pre- 
cife  form  of  it ;  but  there  can  be  no  hefita- 
tion  to  fay,  that  a  much  nearer  union  among 
feveral  denominations  in  this  country,  than 
now  exifts,  is  defirable  and  attainable ;  and 
will,  probably,  in  due  time,  be  effefted.  We 
may  judge  of  the  form  by  precedents  before 
us;  and  it  is  not  vain  to  think  of  fome  bond 
of  union  between  churches  ftill  more  unlike 
to  one  another.* 

S 


*  The  correfpondence  between  the  Dutch  Reformed, 
the  Aflbciate  Reformed,  and  the  Prefbyterian  Synods,  be- 
gan in  1785,  and  was  continued  until  1790.  The  plan 
was  firft  propofed  by  fome  of  the  minifters  of  the  Dutch 
church.  Delegates  from  each  of  thefe  Synods  met  annual- 
ly in  Convention,  which  pofTefled  only  powers  ofcoun- 
fel  and  advice.  Here  was  a  bond  of  union.  The  reafon 
of  a  failure  was,  perhaps,  becaufe  the  bond  was  not  the 
mod  proper  ;  at  lead:,  I  am  unwilling  to  afcribe  it  to  any 
other  thing.  The  Reverend  Dr.  John  Mafon,than  whom 
few  men  had  a  more  accurate  judgment,  and  a  more  honeft 
heart,  was  defirous  of  the  continuance  of  the  correfpond- 
ence, and  hoped  that  much  good  would  refult  from  it.  I 
\Yi\\  be  excufed  here,  in  paying  a  fraall  refpedt  to  theme- 


142  UNITY      OF 

There  has  been  a  federal  union  of  the 
flates  in  civil  government,  and  why  not  like- 
wile  of  the  churches  ?  The  time  is  expefled 
when  nations  will  learn  war  no  more,  and 
why  not  a  time  when  all  the  members  of 
Ch rifts  church  throughout  the  world,  fhall 
embrace  in  love?  America  has  been  the 
lirft  in  eftablifhing  civil  liberty,  may  we  not 
hope  that  flie  fhall  be  the  firft  in  difarming 

mory  of  a  man,  who  was  my  neighbour  and  my  friend, 
whom  I  knew  too  late,  and  of  whofe  value  I  was  hardly 
ienfible,  until  I  experienced  his  lofs.  Tin6lurcd  at  firft 
with  a  few  European  prejudices,  they  foon  vanifhed  in  the 
American  clime,  and  his  excellent  underflanding  ripened 
and  mellowed  into  Chriftian  forbearance  and  liberality.  He 
had  prudence  without  cunning,  cheerfulnefs  without  levity, 
dignity  without  pride,  friendfliip  without  ceremony, 
charity  without  undue  latitude,  and  religion  without  often- 
tation.  He  refts  in  peace,  far  beyond  the  cenfure  or  the 
npplaufe  of  mortals.  Difappointed  in  the  profpe6t  of  an 
union  between  the  denominations  mentioned,  he  is  gone 
to  join  the  general  affembly  and  church  of  the  firft  born, 
where  all  is  harmony  and  love.  The  congregation  which 
he  ferved  have  cre6led  a  handfome  monument  to  his  me- 
mor}',  but  the  moft  honorable  monument,  is  the  place  he 
holds  in  their  hearts,  and  the  lafting  efteem  of  ail  who 
knev/  him. 


THE      C    H    U    R     C    H.       143 

infidels,  by  exhibiting  Chriflianity  pure  and 
undefiled  to  the  view  of  men.  Greater  op- 
portunities are  afforded  to  us,  than  to  any 
other  nation,  and  let  it  be  faid  with  the  ut- 
moft  ferioufnefs,  that  if  we  improve  them 
not,  God  may  contend  with  us.  We  have 
fuffered  already  by  his  judgments,  and  it  be* 
comes  us  to  inquire  into  the  caufe  of  them. 
To  me,  it  has  appeared  that  one  caufe  of 
the  divine  anger,  is  the  want  of  a  difpofition 
to  union;  and  that  to  this  may  be  afcribed 
the  withholding  of  divine  influences  in  the 
adminiftration  of  ordinances.  Our  peculiar 
circumftances  call  for  a  peculiar  condu6l. 
The  arguments  for  a  ftate  of  difunion  which 
would  be  juft  in  another  country,  are  totally 
inapplicable  in  this* 

It  is  worthy  of  our  attention,  that  before 
the  defcent  of  the  holy  Ghoft  at  Pentecoft, 
the  difciples  were  all  with  one  accord  in  one 
place.  How  loving  and  united  were  they! 
All  v/as  ferene  like  a  fummer  evening*,  when 
xht  found  came  from  heaven  as  of  a  rufiing 
mighty  wind,  and  it  filled  all  the  houfe  zvhert 


144  U    N    1    T    Y      OF 

they  werejitting.  Is  there  not  reafon  to  be- 
lieve, that  did  Chriftians  endeavour  more  for 
a  fpirit  of  union  and  love,  God  would  com- 
mand a  bleffing  ?  That  this  would  be  a 
token  of  the  near  approach  of  thofe  happy 
days  which  we  warmly  defi re,  and  have  long 
expefted  ? — Suffer  me  now,  my  brethren,  to 
turn  your  attention  to  fome  prafiical  im- 
provement of  what  has  been  faid. 

1.  We  may  learn  the  great  depravity  of 
human  nature.  This  is  the  bitter  root  from 
which  contentions  fpring.  Our  Saviour, 
well  knowing  how  mankind  would  abufe 
the  riches  of  his  goodnefs,  foretold  what 
fhould  happen  on  this  earth  ;  that  offences 
Ihould  come  ;  that  he  fhould  fend  fire  on  the 
earth ;  that  inflead  of  peace  there  fhould  be 
rather  divifion  ;  and  that  thofe  of  the  fame 
houfe  fhould  be  divided.  Can  there  be  a 
ftronger  proof  of  a  difordered  nature,  than 
that  the  greatefl  good  fhould  be  made  the 
occafion  of  fin,  the  means  of  our  recovery 
abufed  to  our  own  deftruftion?  When  we 
confider  the  diOeDfions  of  even  great  and 


THE     CHURCH.      145 

good  men,  how  hard  to  remove  their  mifun- 
derftandings,  and  reconcile  or  bring  them 
to  a  proper  temper ;  when  we  conhder  how- 
much  pride,  obftinacy,  and  felfifhnefs  there 
is  in  human  nature,  we  muft  lament,  the 
ruined  ftate  of  man,  and  exclaim  with  the 
Pfalmift,  0  that  I  had  wings  like  a  dove  !  for  then 
-would  IJly  away  and  be  at  rejt,  Lo  then  zooidd 
I  wander  far  off,  and  remain  in  the  wilder- 
nefs. 

2.  Learn  from  the  imperfeftion  of  which 
all  are  partakers,  to  think  charitably  of  thofe 
who  differ  from  us.  Various  are  the  capa- 
cities and  opportunities  of  men,  and  various 
the  prejudices  to  which  they  are  liable. 
Since  the  grace  of  God  is  not  confined  to 
any  particular  way,  who  are  we  that  we 
Ihould  arrogate  to  ourfelves  the  right  of  de- 
termining in  matters  of  religion  ?  Let  the 
Pope  folace  himfelf  with  his  own  infallibi- 
lity, but  feek  not  you  to  difpute  the  chair 
with  him.  Shall  we  rejeft  thofe  whom  God 
receives  ?  Rather  let  us  court  their  friend- 
fhip,  walk  in  fellowfliip,  forbearing  them.,  as 


146  U    N    1    T    Y      OF 

-^^e  expeft  forbearance.  You,  my  brethren, 
are  of  the  fame  denomination,  you  are 
agreed  in  doftrine  and  form  of  church-go- 
vernment, and  you  fliould  be  knit  together 
in  love.  Chriftians  need  frequently  to  be 
^xhorted  to  love  one  another.  Our  Sa- 
viour and  his  Apofiles  dwell  m.uch  upon 
this;  and  no  v.x>nder,  for  there  is  much  of 
lieaven  in  it,  and  it  ftrongly  manifefls  the 
power  of  godlinefs.  The  more  true  love 
we  have  to  one  another  as  members  of  the 
fame  fociety,  the  more  will  our  hearts  be 
enlarged  to  embrace  the  whole  family  of 
Chrift. 

3.  Let  me  earneftly  urge  upon  you,  the 
neceffity  of  union  to  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift 
by  faith.  This  is  the  only  mean  of  uniting 
you  in  heart  to  one  another,  and  of  fecuring 
your  eternal  happinefs.  There  is  no  other 
refuge  but  Chritl,  from  the  avenging  wrath 
of  God.  Be  careful  and  diligent  now  in 
your  application  to  him,  tliat fo  you  may  live 
and  reign  with  him  hereafter. — When  death 
is  near,  and  you  look  forward  to  an  avrful 


THE     CHURCH.      147 

and  boundlefs  eternity,  it  is  not  your  having 
belonged  to  fuch  a  focicty,  it  is  not  your 
having  been  called  by  fuch  a  name,  will 
afford  you  confolation.  Hoy/  much  lefs 
will  the  recoUeftion  of  variance  and  ftrife 
with  your  brethren,  or  that  you  harboured 
the  fpirit  of  party,  and  purfaed  contentious 
meafures  !  Let  us  often  examine  our  fenti- 
ments  and  praftices  in  the  profpeft  of  eter- 
nity, and  afk  ourfelves,  How  they  w^ill  ftand 
the  teft?  Were  we  to  die  this  night,  would 
we  have  the  teflimony  of  our  own  confcien- 
ces,  and  meet  the  approbation  of  our  Judge  ? 
Death  may  be  near,  even  at  the  door ;  and 
the  opportunity  be  loft,  either  of  doing  the 
good  which  we  had  intended,  or  of  rectify- 
ing the  evil  which  we  had  done. 
* 

Lastly,  How  unfpeakably  pleafant  is 
the  heavenly  ftate !  There  all  the  redeemed 
of  the  Lord  fhall  dwell  for  ever  together, 
and  be  made  perfect  in  love.  There  fhall 
meet  thofe  of  different  perfuafions,  thofe 
who  could  not  join  in  worfhip  here  below, 
and  who  perhaps  mutually  caft  each  other 


i4§  UNITY     OF 

out.  There  they  (hall  no  longer  doubt 
each  other's  fincerity,  no  longer  be  filled 
wi'h  prejudices  and  miftakes,  no  longer  the 
great  adverfary  excite  differences  between 
them  ;  but  they  (hall  love  as  children  of 
the  fame  Father,  and  be  joint  heirs  with 
Chrift  m  glory.  O  glorious  church,  with- 
out fpot  or  wrinkle!  O  abode  of  unutter- 
able delight !  Eye  hath  not  feen,  nor  ear 
heard,  nor  the  heart  of  man  conceived  thy 
tranfcendent  excellence!  Raife  your  thoughts, 
ye  faints,  from  this  wearifome,  quarrelfome 
w^orld,  to  yonder  place  of  refl !  Behold  the 
blefled  inhabitants,  without  a  difcordant 
note,  fing  the  fong  of  Mofes  and  the  Lamb  ! 
Do  you  afpire  to  join  them?  Remember, 
that  no  unclean  thing  can  ever  enter ;  that  a 
divine  temper  mud  be  cultivated  on  earth ; 
that  if  ever  we  fee  God  we  muft  be  like  him, 
and  GcD  is  love. 


^>5 
^ 


DISCOURSE  VI 


FALL    OF  ANTICHRIST^ 


*  DANIEL  vii.  25. 

And  he  shall  speak  great  words  against  the 
MOST  High,  and  shall  wear  out  the  saints 
OF  the  most  High,  and  think  to  change 
times  and  laws:  and  they  shall  be  given 
into  his  hand,  until  a  time  and  times,  and 

THE  dividing  OF  TIME. 


H 


AVING  begun  there  difcouifes  with  a 
few  remarks  on  the  fulfilment  of  the  pro- 
pKecies,  I  ihall  conclude  them  with  fome 
farther  remarks  on  the  fame  fubjeft, 

T 


150  FALL     OF 

It  is  generally  agreed  by  all  Protefiant 
interpreters,  that  the  pov/er  defcribed  here 
by  Daniel,  is  the  fame  which  the  Apoflle  Paul 
Cdilhihevian  ^^?i, and  which  Johnin  theRe- 
velation  calls  the  beajl  and  the  falfe  prophet. 
It  is  likewife  generally  agreed,  that  by 
thefe  is  meant  Popery,  or  the  idolatrous 
and  tyrannical  power  of  the  church  of 
Rome.  The  defcription  is  fo  drawn  as  not 
to  admit  of  a  jufl  application  to  any 
other.* 


*  Bsfides  that  the  defcription  will  not  fuit  any  other 
than  the  church  of  Rome,  the  number  of  ths  beaji  agrees 
exaclly  with  her.  Hh  number  is  Jix  hundred^  three/cor g 
and  fix.  If  wc  take  the  Greek  y^oid  Latelnos,  x^q  Latin 
or  Roman,  (as  the  Wellern  church  was  called)  and  the 
Hebrew  word  Ro7nilth,  which  fignifiesthe  Roman  king- 
dom, we  will  fincithat  each  contains  the  number  666. 

Lambda  -  30  Refch  -          200 

Alpha  -  I  Vail  -                  6 

I'au               -  300  Mem  -          40 

Epfilon  -  "    5  ■  Jod  -              10 

Iota     -         -  ^^    .  J^^  "  ^^ 

Nu  -     ,  50    *  7>.au  -             -      400 


Omicron         -      70 

Sitrfna         -  2oo  -666 


^66 


ANTICHRIST.  151 

The  deftruftion  of  this  power,  which  has 
fo  long  oppofed  the  reign  of  Chrift,  and 
worn  out  the  faints,  is  clearly  foretold,  and 
confidently  expefted.-  We  have  feen  it 
gradually  rife  to  an  enormous  ftrength ;  we 
have  feen  it  as  gradually  decline;  and  from 
thejigns  of  the  times,  the  vials  of  divine  wrath 
will  foon  be  poured  out,  when  it  {hall  be 
faid.  It  is  done. 

It  is  likewife  remarked  as  a  very  fmgular  circumftancc, 
that  the  title  Vicarlus  Filii  Dei,  which  the  Pope  has  af- 
fumed,  makes  the  fame  number, 


V 

5 

I 

-          -         I 

c 

100 

A 

0 

R 

0 

1 

-         -          I 

V 

5 

S- 

-         -         0 

F 

0 

I 

-             -              X 

L 

50 

I 

-          -          i 

I 

I 

D 

-     500 

E 

r 

0 

I 

I 

666 


i52  FALL    OF 

With  refpeft  to  the  time  of  the  fall  of 
Antichrift,  interpreters  have  differed  very 
widely.     It  cannot  be  fully  known  until  the 
event  has  taken  place.    That  God  intended 
it  to  be  in  a  meafure  hidden  from  us,  ap- 
pears from  the  anfwer  which  was  returned 
to  ilie  inquiry  of  Daniel ;   And  1  heard,  but  I 
underfcoodnot :   then f aid  I,  Omy  Lord,  what 
fiiallbe  the  end  of  theje  things  ?  And  he  faid. 
Go  thy  zoay,  Daniel;  for  the  words  are  clofed 
up  andfealed  till  the  time  cf  the  end.     We 
may  not  therefore  rafhly,  or  curioufly  in- 
quire into  this  matter,  farther  than  we  are 
warranted  by  what  God  hath  been  pleafed 
to  reveal.**  I  (hall  ftate  the  opinion  which  is 


*  "  The  folly  of  interpreters,"  fays  Ifaac  Newton,  in 
his  Obfervations  on  the  Revelation,  *'  has  been,  to  foretel 
^'  times  and  things  by  tliis  prophecy,  as  if  God  defigned  to 
"  make  them  prophets.  By  this  rafhnefs  they-  have  not 
^^  only  expofed  themfelves,  but  brought  the  prophecy  alfo 
^*  into  contempn  The  defign  of  God  was  much  other- 
^*  v/ife.  He  gave  this  and  the  prophecies  of  the  Old 
^^  Teftament,  not  to  gratify  mens  curiofities  by  enabling 
**  them  to  foreknow  things,  but  that  after  thry  were  ful- 
^''  filled  they  might  be  interpreted  by  the  event,  and  his 
"  own  providence,  not  the  interprf  ters,  be  then  maniiefi- 
e   d  thereby  to  the  world." 


ANTICHR  1ST.  153 

moft  commonly  received,  and  humbly  offer 
fome  reafons  why  the  fall  of  Aniichrift,  and 
the  glorious  days  in  the  church  which  are  to 
fucceed,  may  be  expefted,  at  leaft  in  ^part, 
much  fooner. 

The  continuance  of  Popery  is  expreffed 
in  the  text,  by  a  time  and  times,  and  the  di- 
viding oftinu;  and  again,  in  the  12th  chap- 
ter and  7th  verfe,  by  a  time,  times,  and  an 
half.  In  the  Revelation,  the  11th  chapter 
and  2d  verfe,  it  is  faid,  that  the  Gentiles Jliall 
tread  underfoot  the  holy  city  forty  and  tvoo 
months;  and  in  the  3d  verfe,  that  the  two 
witneffesfiall  prophefy  a  thoufand  tzvo  hun- 
dred  and  threefcore  days,  clothed  in  fackcloth. 
In  the  12th  chapter  and  6th  verfe,  it  is  faid, 
that  the  woman  who  fled  into  the  wildernefs 
fhould  be  fed  there  a  thoufand  tioo  hundred 
and  threefcore  days;  and  again  in  the  14th 
verfe,  are  the  very  words  by  which  the  dura- 
tion is  expreffed  in  Daniel ;  a  time  and  tir/ies, 
and  half  a  time.  In  the  13th  chapter  and 
5th  verfe,  it  is  faid  of  the  bead,  ihsit power 


1  n  A  F  A  L  L     o  F 


3-x 


Xij.is  given  unto  him  to  continue  forty  and  tw(> 
months, 

ALi.  thcfc  numbers  are  allowed  to  be  the 
fame,  and  each  of  them  tofignifyone  thou- 
fand  two  hundred  and  fixty  years ;  for  a 
time  is  a  year,  and  a  time  and  times,  and  the 
dividing  oj  time,,  or  half  a  time,  are  three 
years  and  a  half,  and  three  years  and  a  half 
^reforty-ttoo  months,  d.ndiJorty4vJO  months  are 
one  thoufand  two  hundred  and  f.xty  days,  and 
one  thoufand  tv:o  hundreds  andfixty  days  are, 
in  the  prophetic  flile,  one  thoufand  two  hun-^ 
dred  and  fixty  years.  This  is  the  period 
which  is  fixed  for  the  continuance  of  Anti- 
chrift.  It  may  be  remarked,  that  we  are 
led  to  give  this  interpretation  of  times  and 
days  from  the  language  in  other  prophecies 
which  have  been  fulfilled  ;  and  that  a  month 
was  then  reckoned  to  confift  of  thirty,  and  a 
year  of  three  hundred  and  fixty  days. 

The  great  difficulty,  my  brethren,  is  when 
to  date  the  commencement  of  the  thoufand 

t.v;o  Irandred  and  fixty  years.      Some  have 


ANTICHRIST.  155 

dated  it  fo  early,  that  time  has  fliown  their 
miftake  ;  fome  fo  late  as  to  remove  the  ful- 
filment to  a  great  diftance  ;  and  fome  agaia 
have  chofen  a  middle  path.  The  opinion 
which  prevails  moft,  is,  that  thefe  years  are 
to  be  computed  from  the  year  75S,  or  at 
leaft,  not  earlier  than  from  the  year  727. 
This  is  the  opinion  of  Bifhop  Newton,  and 
of  feveral  who  have  written  before  and 
fmce ;  and  according  to  which  the  down- 
fall of  Popery  is  not  to  be  expefted  until 
about  the  two  thoufandth  year  of  Chrift, 
above  two  hundred  years  from  this  time. 
Let  us  examine  this  opinion.  It  is  found- 
ed. 

First,  On  the  neceffity  of  the  Pope  be- 
coming a  temporal  prince,  or  uniting  in 
himlelf  the  civil  and  ecclefiallic  powers  be- 
fore he  could  be  called  a  horn  or  kingdom, 
and  before  he  could  anfwer  to  the  defcrip- 
tion  of  the  beafl  in  the  Revelation. 

On  this  it  may  be  faid,  that  though  he 
might  not  have  been  fettled  in  his  civil  do-- 


156  FALL     OF 

mmion  until  he  revolted  from  the  Exarcli 
of  ylaveniia,  and  (hook  off  allegiance  to  the 
Greek  emperor,  or  even  until  Pepin  king  of 
France,  made  him  prince  over  a  large  terri- 
tory, yet  he  had  long  before  a  great  in- 
fluence in  the  temporal  affairs  of  the  Roman 
empire.  He  was  declared  univerfal  bifhop 
in  the  year  606.  If  the  1260  years  be 
reckoned  from  that  time,  they  will  end  in  the 
year  18SS,  which  carries  us  72  years  hence. 
1  he  Pope  had  certainly  greater  power  be- 
fore the  days  of  Pepin,  than  he  has  now, 
and  has  had  for  a  long  time,  though  he  is 
fuppofed  to  be  ftill  on  the  throne.  If  then 
his  power  be  now  fo  fmall  and  continually 
declining,  what  good  reafon  is  there  for  al- 
ledging  that  his  reign  did  not  commence 
when  the  power  was  greater?  If  he  now 
exifls^  furely  he  muft  have  exifted  when  his 
influence  was  more  powerful  and  extenfive. 
At  his  firfl  appearance  he  is  called  by 
Daniel,  a  little  horn,  which  is  defcriptive 
of  him  as  not  having  yet  enlarged  and  efta- 
blifhed  his  dominion.  He  is  (aid,  after- 
wards, to  zoax  exceeding  great,  and  when  he 


o  o 


ANTICHRIST.  157 

had  arrived  at  his  fuH  growth,  we  find  him 
called  in  the  Revelation,  a  bead  with  two 
hornsy  and  with  ten  horns. 

If  we  look  as  far  back  as  the  third  cen- 
tury, we  will  find  that  Popery  had  made 
confiderable  progrefs.  "  The  Bifhops,"  fays 
an  approved  hiftorian,  "  affumed  in  many 
"  places,  a  princely  authority,  particularly 
"  thofe  who  had  the  greateft  number  of 
"  churches  under  their  infpeftion,  and  who 
*^  prefided  over  the  moft  opulent  affemblies* 
"  They  appropriated  to  their  evangelical 
"  funftion,  the  fplendid  enfigns  of  temporal 
"  majefly :  A  throne  furrounded  with  mi- 
"  nifters,  exalted  above 'his  equals  the  fer- 
^'  vants  of  the  meek  and  humble  Jefus,  and 
'^  fumptuous  garments  dazzled  the  eyes  and 
"  the  minds  of  the  multitude,  into  an  igno- 
*^  rant  veneration  for  their  arrogated  autho- 
"  rity.*"  It  was  about  the  middle  of  this 
century,  that  Stephen  the  bifliop  of  Rome^, 

U 

*  Mofheim. 


158  FALL      o  ? 

afpired  to  a  fuperiority  over  all  the  other 
bifliops.  Reckoning  from  this  time  until 
the  Reformation,  we  will  find  1260  years. 
Luther  arofe  in  the  year  1517,  from  which 
if  we  deduft  1260,  it  will  leave  257,  the  very 
year  in  which  Stephen  ufurpedthe  pre-emi- 
nence, and  which  was  in  fome  meafure 
yielded  to  him. 

A  LATE  v/riter  on  the  Revelation  ^^  fays, 
that  the  1260  years  mufl  be  reckoned  to 
begin  fome  time  between  the  year  500,  when 
the  weflern  and  eaftern  churches  firfl  fepa- 
rated,  and  the  year  ^53,  when  the  reign  of 
the  Goths  ended ;  when  Narfes  took  Rom.e 
and  their  dominions  in  Italy  from  them,  and 
eftablilhed  the  exarchate  of  Ravenna.  If  to 
the  500  we  add  the  1260  years,  it  will  bring 
us  to  the  year  1760 ;  the  time  when  the 
Jefuits  began  to  feel  the  refentment  of  the 
kings  of  Europe,  and  which  foon  afterward 
effe£led  their  diflblution.     Thefe  men  who 


'^  Dr.  Lar.t^don. 


ANTICHRIST.  159 

contributed  much  to  the  fupport  of  the 
Papal    throne,    were     expelled    Portugal, 
France,  Spain,  and  Sicily,  between  the  years 
1759  and  1767,  and  the  order  was  entirely 
fuppreired  in   1773.      The  fuppreffion  of 
convents,  and  the  feizure  of  their  revenues, 
the  checks  which  the  courts  of  inquifition 
have  received,  and  the  liberty  of  confcience 
which  has  been  given  to  Proteftants,  might 
be  mentioned  as  fo   many  Heps,  fmce  the 
foregoing  date  by  which  the  power   of  the 
Romifh  church  has  declined.— If  to  553  we 
add  the  1260  years,  it  will  bring  us  to  the 
year  1813,  about   19  years  from  this  time  ; 
and  furely,  if  we   confider  what  has  been 
tranfafted  in  Europe  for  a  few  years   paft, 
and  the  prefent  appearances,  Antichrift  may 
at  that  period  be  almoft  totally  deftroyed. 

From  ail  this,  it  would  appear,  that  no 
precife  time  can  be  fixed  from  which  to 
reckon  thefe  years ;  that  they  may  have  fe- 
veral  beginnings  and  ending; ;  that,  as  An- 
tichrift rofeby  degrees,  fo  he  will  fall  by  de- 
grees ;  that,  if  we  begin  at  the  earlieft  date,  # 


i6o  F  A  L  L     o  F 

the  end  of  the  period  will  bring  us  to  the 
beginning  of  his  fall ;  but  that  if  we  begin 
at  the  lateft  date,  then  we  will  be  brought 
to  his  complete  deftruftion.  Though  it  is 
probable  that  the  prophecy  will  at  laft  be 
fulfilled  in  fome  event  more  vihble  and 
ftriking  than  all  the  preceding  ones  ;  that 
the  vefligcs  of  Popery  may  continue  for  a 
long  time  ;  and  that  it  may  be  near  the  two 
thoufandth  year  of  Chrift,  before  the  church 
enjoys  the  greateft  profperity  ;  yet  there  is 
reafon  to  believe  that  preparatory  events  are 
much  nearer,  and  that  even  w^e  may  fee  a 
day  of  the  Son  of  man.  After  the  deftruc- 
tion  of  Antichrift,  there  are  other  events 
expefled,  and  which  v/ill  require  time  to 
accomplifh  before  the  church  look  forth  as 
the  morning, fair  as  the  moon,  clear  as  the  fun, 
and  terrible  as  an  army  with  banners. 

That  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  An- 
tichrift  may  have  different  dates,  and  his  fall 
be  efiecled  at  different  periods,  until  his 
final  and  dreadful  ruin,  we  are  authorifed 
to  fay  fromfimilar  prophecies  and  their  ful- 


ANTICHRIST.  i6t 

filment.*  With  regard  to  the  deftrucliou 
of  Babylon,  and  the  deliverance  of  the  Jews 
from  captivity,  which  is  evidently  alluded 
to  in  the  Revelation,  as  a  type  of  the  op- 
preflion  of  the  church  of  Rome,  neither  the 
captivity  of  the  Jews,  nor  their  reftoration 
was  done  all  at  once.  It  was  foretold,  that 
the  duration  of  the  captivity  ifliould  be  fe- 
venty  years,  and  that  after  feventy  years 
God  would  deftroy  Babylon.  But  this  pre> 
diftiOn  had  reference  to  different  beginnings 
and  endings.  It  was  juft  feventy  years  from 
the  firft  captivity,  in  the  fourth  year  of  Je- 
hoiakim,  when  Daniel  and  many  other  Jews 
M^ere  carried  to  Babylon,  to  the  decree  of 
Cyrus,  giving  leave  to  the  Jews  to  return, 
and  ordering  that  the  temple  fhould  be  re- 
built ;  and  it  was  feventy  years  from  the 
deftruftion  of  Jerufalem  and  the  temple,  to 
the  publifhing  of  the  decree  of  Darius,  by 
which  the  building  of  the  temple  was  com- 

*  The  Author  is  indebted  for  this  and  feme  of  the  fol- 
lowing fentiments,  to  Prefidcnt  Edwards  and  Dr.  Hop- 
kins.    In  one  or  two  places  he  has  ufed  the  fame  wordv*;. 


102  F  A  L  L     o  F 

pieted,  and  the  Jews  reftored  to  their  former 
ftate.  In  like  manner  were  the  prophecies 
concerning  Babylon  fulhlled ;  far  though 
they  had  a  principal  reference  to  the  def- 
truflion  by  Cyrus  at  the  end  of  the  firft 
fcventy  years,  yet  there  were  other  things 
not  fulfilled  until  the  fourth  year  of  Darius, 
which  was  at  the  end  of  the  fecond  feventy 
years. 

Kav^  we  not  then  rcafon  to  conclude, 
that  the  1260  years  of  the  captivity  of 
the  church  of  Ghrift  in  fpiritual  Babylon^ 
v/ill  have  different  becrinnino^s,^  and  con- 
fequently  different  endings  ?  That  as  the 
tyranny  of  the  church  of  Rom.e  gradually 
rofe,  fo  it  Vv-ill  gradually  fall ;  and  that  from 
each  remarkable  advance,  there  are  1260 
years  teas  remarkable  fucceflive  events,  by 
which  the  power  of  the  beaft  iliall  decline, 
until  it  be  utterly  deflroyed?* 

*  Mr.  Thoinas  Pain?,  in  his  **  Age  of  Reafon,"  al- 
ledgef,  that  the  prophecies  in  the  Bible,  are  "  fo  equivo- 
"  cal,  as  tc  fit  almju  any  circumftaDCe  that  might  happen 


ANTIC  HRIS.T.  i6> 

Seconoly,  The  opinion  that  the  fall  of 
Antichrifl:  is  ilill  at  .a  great  diftance,  is 
founded  on  the  interpretation  of  the  pro- 
phecy refpefting  the  flaying  of  the  two 
witnefles.  This,  it  is  alledged,  is  fome  event 
diftinft  from  their  prophefying  in  fackcloth^ 
is  not  to  take  place  until  the  expiration  of 
the  1260  years,  and  remains  yet  to  be  ful- 
filled. 


*'  afterwards,"  I  cannot  now  follow  him  on  this  fubjeC^, 
Whatever  may  be  faid  of  the  writings  of  this  Author  on 
politics,  he  was  furely  unhappy  when  he  commenced 
divine.  He  has  difco\ered,  and  indeed  confelTed  fuch 
ignorance  of  the  facred  Scriptures,  as  renders  him  not 
only  unworthy  of  truft,  but  fubjefts  him  to  contempt. 
There  is  nothing  new  in  his  performance,  fave  the  bold 
and  indecent  manner.  '  His  character  gives  it  a  temporary 
popularity ;  but  it  mull:  foon  fmk  into  infamy,  and  carry 
his  own  name  along  with  it.  It  can  do  no  harm  except 
to  the  young  and  fuperficial.  In  the  virtuous  mind  it  will 
excite  fentimcnts  of  abhorrence,  and  the  Deift  who  has 
read  a  little,  will  blufh  to  fee  his  caufe  fo  miferabiy 
handled.  It  has  already  called  forth  fome  animadverfions 
and  probably  will  more.  Indeed  it  is  provoking  to  fee 
theChriftian  religion,  after  having  withflood  the  roarings 
of  the  lion,  infulted  by  the  brayings  of  the  afs. 


164  F  A  L  L    o  F 

This  was  partly  confidered  in  the  firft 
difcourfe.      It    appears  to    me    probable 
that  this  has  been  already  fulfilled,  or  that 
it  cannot  be   fulfilled  in  the  way  which 
has  been  expefted,  or  that  it  is  now  ful- 
filling.    The    death  and    the   refurreftion 
of  the   witneffes  are  applicable  to    feveral 
events  which  preceded  the  Reformation; 
particularly,   their   death  may   fignify  the 
mofl   cruel   perfecutions  and   maflacres  of 
Chriflians  about  that  time,  and  their  refur- 
reftion,  the  Reformation  which  fpeedily  fol- 
lowed.    Perhaps  there  is  no  reafon  to  con- 
fine this  part  of  the  prophecy  anymore  than 
the  other  to  a  precife  time.     The  witnefles 
were,  at  feveral  times,  remarkably  (lain,  and 
as  remarkably  arofe. 

But,  if  it  remain  to  be  fulfilled,  in  what 
way  fhall  it  be  ?  Is  it  agreeable  to  the  deal- 
ings of  Providence,  that  the  church,  after  her 
deliverance  is  begun,  fhall  be  brought  un- 
der a  mere  cruel  bondage  than  ever?  Is  it 
probable  from  the  prefent  circumfl;ances  of 
the  world,  that  ignorance  and   barbarifrn 


ANTICHRIST.  165 

fhall  return,  and  the  arm  of  Popery  be 
nerved  anew  to  inflift  the  horrid  blow? 
Then  fhe  would  kill  not  tioo,  not  a  fmall 
number  of  witneffes,  but  a  great  multitude. 
The  Proteftants  were  thought  to  be  once 
equal  in  number  to  the  Papills. 

Such  a  perfecution  can  beexpefted  only 
by  the  reftoration  of  the  old  fyftem  in 
France,  and  the  univerfal  prevalence  of  def- 
potifm  in  the  world;  an  event  at  which  the 
generous  mind  recoils,  and  which  is,  from 
all  appearances,  highly  improbable.*    The 

X 

*  That  There  is  danger  from  the  meafures  purfued  in 
France,  of  introducing  m  age  of  barbarifm,  appears  to  me 
a  groundlefs  apprehenfion.  To  judge  by  what  has  hap- 
pened in  former  ages,  we  muft  ccnfider  the  difference  of 
circumftances  ;  we  muft  fee  whether  the  ia6ls  which  we 
compare  are  exa6itly  p;rallel  or  not ;  otherwifc  we  will 
draw  an  improper  conclufion.  Superficial  and  unphilofo- 
phical  reafoners,  who  thought  themfelves  wonderfully 
wife,  ufed  to  prate  about  our  conteft  with  Britain,  and  al- 
ledge  that  we  could  not  fucceed,  or  that  if  we  did,  we 
would  foon  quarrel  among  ourfelves.  But  all  thefe  have 
bf^en  faife  prophets.     In  Qiort,  hiftory  furmi'hes  no  pre- 


i66  .        FALL     OF 

Pope  is  only  the  ghoil  of  v/hat  he  v/as.  The 
kincTS  will  cover  him  wiih  finews  and  fieili 
no  more ;  yea,  the  time  will  come,  and 
now^  is,  when  the  kingsJJiall  hate  the  church 
of  Rome,  called  the  whore,  andfliall  make 
her  'defolate,  and  naked,  andJhaU  eat  herjlejli, 
and  burn  her  loithjire. 

May  we  not  rather  conjefture,  that  the 
prefent  growth  of  infidelity,  the  low  and  ge- 
neral decline  of  rclig:ion  throughout  the 
w^orld,  together  with  the  awful  calamities 
commg  upon  thofe  nations  v;hich  have  the 
iviage  of  the  heajf-,  is  tiiat  dark  and  difmal 
time  which  good  men  have  expefted  from 
the  (laying  of  the  witneiles,  and  their  dead 
bodies  lying  in  the  Rreet?— The  pious  and 

cedents  of  the  revolutions  in  America  and  France.— 
Equally  abfurd  is  the  opinion  that  the  old  fyftem  can  be 
reftored  in  France.  Is  it  not  flrange  that  the  Britifli  na- 
tion fhoiild  either  wiili  or  attempt  it  ?  She  who  has  gio- 
lied  To  much  in  her  liberty^  and  in  being  thought  the  bul- 
wark of  the  Reformation?  "One  would  think,  that  by  this 
tim.e,  Ihe  would  be  at  leafl  tired  of  endeavouring  to  h'nid 
people  im  cil  cajcs  i^-hatever. 


ANTICHR  1ST.  167 

learned  Archbifiiop  Udier  was  deeply  afieft- 
cd  with  a  fad  perfecation  which  he  firmly 
believed  w^ould  come  upon  all  the  Proteltant 
churches  in   Europe.     The  outward  court 
he  explains  to  fignify  the  formal  Chrifdan, 
the  Gentiles,  w^ho  are  to  tre^id  it  under  foot, 
to  fignify  the  Papif.s,  and  he  gives  it  as  his 
opinion,  that  as  this  perfecution  v/ould  be 
xh^jharpeji,  fo  it  would  be  xh^jhoriejl ;   and 
that  there  would   be   this  great   difference 
between  this  lad  and  all  the  preceding  per- 
fecutions,  that  in   the   preceding   the  moft 
eminent  andfpii'itual  minijlers  and  Chrijlians 
generally  fuffered,  but  this  laft  would  take 
away  only  the  grofs  hypocrites  and  formal  ■ 
profejfors.     His  Vv^ords  are  indeed  remark- 
able ;   and,   except  that   he  ufes  the  word 
perfecution,  and  feems  not  to  have  thought 
cJ' any  other  calamity  but  this,   or   thai  it 
cout4  come  from  any  other   quarter   than 
from  the  Papifs,  may  be  called  prophetic. 

The  outward  court,  that  is  formal  pro- 
feffors,  thofe   who    maintain    ecclefiaflica! 


i68  F  A  L  L      o  F 

eftablifliments,  and  have  turned  the  Chriftian 
religion  into  worldly  policy,  are  treading  un- 
der foot  ;    not  by  the  Papiits,  but  by  thofe 
whom  the  monRrous  ftrudure  of  Popery  has 
aroufed  to  tear  it   down.     The  imerpreta- 
tion  feenis  to  be  verifying  as  far  as  ii  refpecis. 
dreadful  fcenes  of  diiiref>  to  befal  thofe  na- 
tions  where    civil    and     fpiritual    tyranny 
reigns.     No  reformation  is   likely  to  take 
place.    Pharaoh  v-nll  not  let  the  children  of 
Ifrael  go.     It  appears  to  be  the  decree   of 
heaven  that  he  ihould  not,  until   involved 
in  utter  deIlru6iion.     The  church  and  the 
flate  are  fo  interwoven  in  their  governments, 
that  they  muft  be  melted  down,  in  order  to 
be  feparated  and  cafl  anev/. — There  is  one 
thing,  my  brethren,  to  comfort  us,  that  the 
calamnty  will  be  fiiort.     After  three  days  and 
an  half,  that  is,  after  fome  fnort   fpace   of 
time,    the   witneiTes   will    revive    and    the 
church   become  profperous.     A  great  part 
of  France   v/as  once  Protcflant.     She  was 
early  and    illuftrious    in  the  Reformation. 
Her  Vv^alls  have  been  broken  down  and  her 
dorv  obfcured  by  Popifii  tvranny.     Now 


ANTICHRIST.  169 

God  in  his  good  pleafure;wiil  build  her  up, 
and  make  her  more  glorious  than  ever. 

Thirdly,  The  opinion  that  happy  days 
in  the  church  are  not  near,  is  founded  on 
the  old  tradition  of  both  Jews  and  Chriflians, 
that  at  the  end  of  fix  thoufand  years  from 
the  beginning,  the  Millennium  will  com- 
mence ;  that  as  God  created  the  world  in 
fix  days,  and  refted  on  the  feventh,  fo  the 
feventh  thoufand  years  from  the  creation 
will  be  the  babbath  or  reft  to  the  church.  It 
is  faid,  that  as  there  w^re  2000  years,  before 
the  lavv^,  and  2000  under  the  law,  fo  there 
will  be  2000  under  the  gofpel,  and  then  ' 
Chrift  will  reio^n  with  his  faints. 

Admitting  this  to  have  ail  the  Vv-eight  it 
ought  to  have,  there  may  be  great  profpe- 
rity  in  the  church  long  before  that  time.  It 
is  to  be  remarked,  that  the  Jews  began  the 
celebration  of  their  fabbath  on  the  evening 
preceding.  From  evening  to  evening  fliail 
ye  celebrate  your  fabbath.  If  the  one  be  a 
type  of  the  other,  then  the  Millennium  will 


J  70  F  ALL     o  F 


begin  in  the  latter  part  of  the  fix  thourand 
years.  There  will  be  the  evening,  the 
dawn,  and  the  gradual  advance  of  the  day, 
until  the  fun  afcend  the  meridian.  Though 
the  full  {plendor  wll  not  be  until  two  hun- 
dred years  hence,  yet  we  may  fee  the  even- 
ing and  the  dawn.  It  is  faid,  that  it  is  al- 
ways darkeft  juft  before  the  dawn.  It  is  now 
dark,  and  ii  grows  darker.  Often  vapours 
hover  round  at  the  approach  of  morn,  and 
exclude  the  rays  of  light.  Thick  vapours 
now  hang  on  the  horizon.  "  The  morning 
'•lowers,  and  clouds  *heavily  bring  on  the 
''day,  the  great,  the  important  day,  big  with 
"  the  fate"  of  the  Pope  and  Papal  Rome. 

m 

Besides,  the  deftruftion  of  Antichrift  is 
an  event  which  is  to  precede  the  Millennium, 
After  civil  and  religious  tyranny  has  ceafed, 
fome  time  will  be  ncceiTary  to  compofe  the 
differences  between  ChriPdans,  to  preach  the 
gofpel  to  the  heathen  nations,  and  to  ac- 
com,plifh  the  reftoration  of  the  Jews.  All 
thefe  conflitutc  the  highcf^  ft^?ndor  of  the 


ANTICHRIST.  171 

Millennium,  and  may  not  be  until  tv.^o  cen- 
turies hence.  As  thefe  events  neceffarily  re- 
quire time,  it  is  alledged  farther,  that  they 
will  not  probably  come  to  pafs  very  foon. 
This  is  the 

Last  thing  which  I  fiiali confider.   We 
cannot  fay  with   certainty,  hovv^   rapid   the 
progrefs  of  truth  will  be,  or  how  far  one 
^vent   will   contribute    to   haflen    another. 
Hitherto    the  progrefs    of  truth  has  been 
flow;   but  with  every  advance  its  fpeed  may 
be  increafed.     The  light  of  the  moon  Jhall  be 
as  the  light  ofthefun,  and  the  light  ofthejun 
JJiall  befevenfold,  as  the  light  offcvcn  days,  in 
the  day  that  the  Lord  bindeth^  the  breach  of 
his  people, and  healeth  the  fir  ofe  of  their  wound. 
When  the  Chriflian  religion   is  maintained 
in  its  primitive  purity,  and  the  profeffors  of 
it  are  united  among  themfelves,  it  will   be 
recommended  to   the  Jews,  and  be  fucccfs-^ 
ful  am.ong  the  heathen  nations.     The  con- 
verfion  of  the  Jews  will,  probably,  be  very 
fudden.     From  thefe  expreffions,   blindnefs 
in  part  is  happened  to  Ijrael,  zz\^  a  vail  is 


172  FALL     OF 

upon  their  heofrt^  we  believe  that  this  will  be 
the  cafe.  Whenever  this  happens,  whether 
they  only  acknov/Iedge  the  true  Mefliah,  or 
w^hether  befides  this,  they  return  as  a  nation 
to  their  ov;n  country,  who  can  tell  the  effeft 
Vv^hich  it  will  have  upon  the  Vv' hole  world? 
We  are  affured  that  their  return  will  be  lije 
from  the  dead ;  it  will  be  the  means  of  con- 
firming the  faith  of  the  Gentiles,  converting 
thofe  who  ftill  remain  in  darknefs,  and  pro- 
ducing a  moil  happy  change  in  the  church. 
Where  is  the  infidel  v/ho  after  this  will  dare 
to  lift  his  head  ?  The  feparation  of  the  Jew^s 
from  all  other  people,  has  been  a  long  and 
conftant  evidence  of  the  truth  of  revelation ; 
but  their  conv^fion  to  the  Chriflian  faith 
muft  carrv  conviciion  home  to  every  bo- 
fom. 

The  circumftances  of  the  v/orld  at  this 
day  might  be  mentioned  as  being  favour- 
able to  the  ditTufion  of  true  knov/Iedge. 
Commerce  between  nations  is  very  exten- 
five.  The  calam.ities  w^hich  will  fall  upon 
fome  nations  vrili  brin?:  them  at  lad   to   fe- 


ANTICHRIST.  173 

rious  refleaion ;  and  thofe  w^ho  efcape  from 
thefe  calamities  to  dillant  countries  will  carry 
with  them  the  principles  of  religion,  and 
prepare  the  way  for  its  propagation.  la 
fnort,  all  things  confidered,  we  have  reafon 
to  believe  that  fcenes  fhall  foon  be  difclofed 
highly  interefting  to  the  church,  and  inti- 
mately connected  with  her  moft  glorious 
ftate  upon  earth. 

.  This  fubjefl:  affords  ground  to  Chriftians 
for  fupport,  for  prayer,  and  for  encourage- 
ment in  their  endeavours  to  advance  the  in- 
terefts  of  religion. 

^  1.  It  affords  ground  for  fupport.  In  times 
of  public  diltrefs,  and  when  iniquity  abounds, 
it  keeps  the  mind  from  fmking  to  look  for- 
ward to  what  is  foretold  concerning  the 
profperity  of  the  church,  and  which  wnll 
certainly  be  fulfilled.  The  fulfilment  may 
be  delayed,  we  may  be  miftaken  as  to  the 
time  and  manner,  but  the  counfel  of  God 
ftandeth  fure.     We  know  that  he  hath  fre- 

y 


1 74  F  A  L  L     o  F 

quently  interpofed  for  the  relief  of  his 
church  at  the  feafon  of  her  greatelt  need. 

God  is  in  the  inidjl  of  her  ;  Jlie  Jhall  not  be 
moved:  God  JliatL  help  her,  and  that  right 
early, 

2.  It  affords  ground  for  prayer.  Whe- 
ther we  immediately  expefl  a  night  of  dark- 
nefs  and  aiiliflion,  or  whether  that  the  day 
will  foon  break,  we  fliould  be  much  and 
earnellly  engaged  in  prayer.  This  is  a  duty 
to  which  we  are  efpecially  called;  and  were 
different  denominations  to  appoint  times, 
and  to  join  in  one  fociety  for  that  purpofe, 
it  would  be  a  token  for  good.  Why  fhould 
we  be  to  one  am)ther  as  heathen-men  and 
publicans?  All  who  are  fincere,  mean  the 
fame  thing,  and  they  have  one  common  in- 
terefh  By  uniting  in  prayer,  not  only  at 
the  faip.e  time,  but  in  the  fame  ailembly, 
tliey  would  offer  a  facrihce  acceptable  td 
God,  and  he  would  pour  out  a  bleffing.* 

*  When  this  was  ready  for  the  prefs,  there  Vw-as  handed 
me  "  an  invitation  to  the  miniriers  and  churches  of  every 


ANTICHRIST.  jy^ 

Pray  for  the  peace  of  Jerufdein  :  they  fhall 
profper  that  love  thee.  Peace  be  xoithin  thy 
walls,  and  profperity  within  thy  palaces. 
For  my  brethren  and  companions  fakes,  I 
will  now  fay,  Peace    be    within  thee.     Be- 

^'  Chriftian  denomination  throughout  the  United   States, 

"  to  unite   in   an   attempt  to   carry    into  execution   the 

'*  Humble  attempt  of  Prefident   Edwards   to'  promote  ex- 

"  pUcit  agreement  and  vijihle   union    of  God's  people    in 

^^  extraordinary  prayer  for  the  revival  of  religion,  and 

'*  the  advancement  of  Chriji's   hijigdora    on    earth,''  ^c. 

This  invitation  came  from    a    number   of   minifters   af- 

fembled  at  Lebanon;    and   in  the  execution  of  the  plan   it 

was  propofed,  "  that  the  minifters  and  church*es  of  every 

*'  Chriftian  denomination  fhould  be  invited   to   maintain 

"  public  prayer  and  praife   accom.panied    v^nth   fuch   in- 

*<  ftrudtion  from  God's   holy  word   as  might  he  judged 

'*  proper,  on   every  frji   Tuefday  of 'the  four  quarters  of 

"  the  year  :    beginning  with  the  firft  Tuefday  of  January 

*'  1795,  at  two  o'clock  afternoon,  if  the  plan  of  concert 

"  {hould  then  be  ripe  for  a  beginning — and  fo  continu- 

"  ing,"  Sec. 

This  plan  I  mod  heartily  approve,  and  confider  it  as  a 
token  for  good.  It  would  have  happy  eifecls  too,  if  thofe 
of  different  denominations,  where  it  is  convenient,  would 
affemble  together,  or  foriu  themfelves  in-to  focieties  for 
prayer. 


lyG  FALL      OF 

caufe  ofthehoiife  of  the  Lord  our  God,  I  toiU 
feek  thy  good. 

Lastly,  We  are  encouraged  by  this 
fubjeft  in  the  ufe  of  our  endeavours  to  ad- 
vance the  caufe  of  Chrift  in  the  world.  No 
Chriflians  have  fo  much  in  their  power  as 
we  have.  We  enjoy  peace  and  religious 
liberty?  For  w^hat  hath  God  given  us 
thefe  ?  Why  were  we  feparated  from  the 
old  v/orld,  before  it  was  diflrafted  and  torn 
with  the  prefent  wars  ?  In  our  former  con- 
nexion we  mult  have  been  expofed  to  great 
rnoleflation,  and  what  is  w^orfe,  we  mull  have 
taken  part  in  a  deteflable  war.  Now  w^e 
fee  tyranny,  receive  his  death-w^ound,  and 
have  nothing  to  fear  except  that  the  monfter 
in  his  defpairing  and  convulfive  throes  in- 
jure our  infant  republic. 

If  amendments  in  our  national  conftitu- 
tion  be  neceffary,  experience  will  point 
them  out,  and  wifdoni  will  direcl  to  feek 
them  in  the  mode  provided  by  the  conflitu- 
tion  itfelf.     If  at   anv  time  an  a6l  deemed 


ANTICHRIST.  177 

unjuft  and  opprefTive  be  paffed  by  the  le- 
giflature,  the  voice  of  reafonable  pediioa 
and  remonftrance  will  be  heard ;  or,  if  not 
heard,  there  will  be  redrefs  in  a  change  of 
the  reprefentation,  whenever  the  majority  of 
the  people  fignify  their  pleafure.  No 
greater  fecuritycan  bedevifed  than  by  con- 
fiding the  power  to  reprefentatives  freely 
chofen.  The  laws  are  thus  enafted  by  the 
people  themfelves,  and  every  juft  ground 
of  complaint  is  removed.  If  a  fmall  part  of 
the  community  be  permitted  to  refill  the 
execution  of  a  law,  nothing  but  anarchy  and 
confufion  will  enfue;  for  it  is  an  eftablifhed 
principle  in  all  free  governments,  that  the 
will  of  the  majority  ought  to  prevail.  May 
we  not  hope  that  America  (hall  flill  be  pre- 
ferved  from  foreign  invafion  as  well  as  the 
more  dreadful  evil  of  internal  difcord,  and 
exhibited  as  a  pattern  to  other  nations?  Is 
not  here  the  treafure  hid  in  the  field?  The 
woman  fed  in  the  wildernefs  ?  While  other 
nations  improve  on  our  form  of  civil  go- 
vernment, may  we  not  indulge  the  fond 
hope  of  drawing  the  plan  and  fetting  the 


lyS  F  A  L  L     OF 

example  of  a  Catholic  church?  Whoknow.^ 
but  it  is  to  begin  with  us,  and  the  influence 
to  be  extended  abroad?  Who  knows  but 
thofe  corruptions  and  divifions  which  have 
fo  long  difgraced  Chriflians,  fhall  here  be 
buried  for  ever,  and  that  many  of  us  fliall 
fee  for  ourfelves  this  gleam  of  light  pre- 
vious to  the  effulgence  of  day?  L^od  hath 
put  the  precious  opportunity  into  our 
hands/O  that  he  may  put  it  into  our  hearts  I 
The  union  of  profeffing  Chrifiians  here  can 
give  civil  government  no  alarm,  for  they 
difclaim  all  interference,  and  afK  nothing 
but  the  enjoyment  of  unalienable  rights.— 
But  if,  O  thou  moft  High,  it  is  thy  will  that 
during  our  abode  below,  we  mufl  weep  at 
the  remembrance  of  Zion,  and  hang  our 
harps  upon  the  willows,  hear  our  prayers^ 
countenance  our  endeavours,  and  when  we 
have  fulfilled  thy  pleafure  on  earth,  bring 
as  to  jf^^^n  v/itii  Chriil  in  heaven. 


APPENDIX. 


■■^Zi^-' 


JL  HE  fentiments  contained  in  the  fore- 
going Difcourfes  would,  probabIy,have  been 
publifhed  in  the  form  of  effays,  had  fuffi- 
cient  leifure  been  allowed   from  the  duties 
of  the  pulpit.     Nothing,  however,  which 
tends  to  reprefent  Chriftianity  in  a  juft  light, 
and  to  promote  the  general  v/elfare  of  the 
church,   can    be    deemed  unfuitable   in   a 
minifter  to  deliver  to  his  people,  and   for 
them  to  hear.   While  the  eifential  doclrines 
and  precepts  of  religion  are  the  great  themes 
of  a  Chriftian  preacher,  he  ought  to  give  his 
hearers  enlarged  views  of  that  fpiritual  fo- 
ciety  of  which  Chrifl  is  the  Head  ;   and  to 


i8o  APPENDIX. 

teach  them  the  relation  which  all  believers 
fuftain  to  Him  and  to  one  another.  Such 
views  will  dellroy  a  contrafted  and  uncha- 
ritable difpofition,  increafe  in  eftimation  the 
glorious  plan  of  redemption,  and  advance 
true  morality  and  happinefs. 

It  has  appeared  to  me  that  God  in  his 
providence  is  removing  in  other  countries, 
the  obftruftions  to  the  purity  and  fuccefs  of 
the  gofpel ;  that  he  has  already,  in  a  great 
meafure,  removed  them  in  this  country  ;  and 
that,  therefore,  we  are  called  to  improve 
the  opportunity  in  reclifying  whatever  is 
amifs,  and  in  reltoring,  as  far  as  v/e  can, 
union  among  the  profeffors  of  religion.  The 
necelTity  has  appeared  the  more  urgent 
from  the  late  prevalence  and  impudence  of 
infidelity.  Some  v/ill  fay,  that  v/e  ought  to 
contend  for  every  thing  held  and  praclifed 
in  our  churches ;  but,  in  my  opinion,  if  we 
would  effectually  defeat  the  adverfaries, 
we  mud  choofe  only  fuch  ground  as  is 
tenable.  Some  will  fay  again,  that  if  we 
once  begin  to  relax,  v;e  know  not  where  we 


APPENDIX.  181 

will  flop;  that  we  will  be  led  away  far 
from  the  truth,  and  religion  will  then  Ian- 
guifh  and  die ;  but,  of  this  there  can  be  no 
danger,  if  the  leading  dodrines  be  pre- 
ferved,  and  mutual  forbearance  exercifed. 
To  ftrive  about  the  peculiarities  of  denomi- 
nation, is  bigotry  and  not  orthodoxy,  it  is 
party  fpirit  and  not  a  holy  zeal. 

There  are  doflrines,  however,  which 
cannot  be  furrendered  without  totally  over- 
turning the  Chriftian  religion.  The  exa- 
mination of  Mr.  Paine's  Age  of  Reafon,  by 
Gilbert  Wakefield  of  England,  I  confider 
as  having  a  more  pernicious  tendency  than 
the  Age  of  Reafon  itfelf  If  Chriftianity  be 
what  Mr.  Wakefield  reprefents  it,  it  is  not 
worth  defending,  and  indeed  it  is  incapable 
of  defence.  When  I  find  him  afferting,  that 
**  to  acknowledge  Jefus  Chrift  to  be  God, 
''  and  the  holy  Spirit  to  be  God,  is  a  funda- 
"  mental  violation  of  all  theology;"  that 
*' the  immaculate  conception  of  Jefus  by 

Z 


iS2  APPENDIX. 

*•'  the  holy  Spirit  conllitutes  no  effential  ar- 
''  tide  of  his  creed;"  that  "  the  whole  fable 
'•' of  the  devil  and  his  angels,  with  all  its 
«'  terrific  appendages,  has  been  gratuitoufly 
*'  fabricated  by  the  fons  of  fuperflition  ;" 
that  "  the  tranfacfions  recorded  in  the  Bible 
'^  are,  in  a  variety  of  inftances,  to  be  con- 
''  fidered  in  the  fame  light  with  thofe  of  all 
*^  other  hiftories ;  namely  as  aggravated  and 
*'  difguifed  in  a  thoufand  inltances ;"  and 
when  I  find  him  joining  with  Mr.  Paine  in 
fneering  at  the  hiftory  of  Jonah ;  I  cannot 
but  confider  his  defence  of  Chriftianity 
weak,  if  it  may  not  be  called  infidious.  It 
is  in  vain  to  difpuie  the  foregoing  points 
with  him,  becauie  we  know  not  what  parts 
of  fcripture  he  receives,  and  what  he  re- 
jecls.  In  fiiort,  I  have  been  exceedingly 
difappointed  in  this  performance,  and  hold 
the  author,  as  a  divine,  in  much  the  fame 
eftimation  with  Mr.  Paine  himfelf ;  for  it 
appears  impoffible  to  draw  a  line  betw(!en 
his  plan  and  downright  deifm.  Chriftianity ! 
Thou  art  fafe  from  all  the  attacks  of  open 


APPENDIX.  183 

enemies,  and  the  more  dangerous  v/ounds  of 
pretended  friends.  If  ever  thefe  lines  come 
to  the  fight  of  Mr.  Wakefield;  they  v/ill  let 
him  know,  that  though  with  him,  i  con- 
tend for  the  rights  of  man,  believe  that  re- 
formation in  the  church  is  neceflary,  and 
am  oppofed  to  all  national  eflablifhments  of 
religion,  yet  I  would  not  for  ten  thoufand 
worlds,  in  removing  the  "  incruftation"  in- 
jure the  "  diamond." — I  (liall  now  fubjoin 
a  few  things  on  the  fubjecl  of  union  which 
could  not  be  conveniently  Inferted  in  the 
difcourfes  themfelves,  and  which  would 
have  too  much  burdened  the  notes. 

As  to  union  I  will  be  afked.  Is  it  de- 
firable?  Is  it  practicable?  And  how  far 
ought  it  to  extend  ?  Or,  what  ought  to  be 
the  precife  form  of  it?  Though  thefe  quef- 
tioas  are  anfwered  in  the  difcourfes,  yet  it 
may  be  proper  to  be  a  little  more  expli- 
cit. 

1.  Union  is  defirable.  This  is  nofingu- 
lar  opinion  of  mine.     It  has  been  received 


i84  APPENDIX. 

from  the  beginning.  In  the  hiflory  of  the 
church,  we  find  that  the  wifefl  and  bell  men 
have  ever  wiflied  and  attempted  to  accom- 
phfh  union.  At  the  Reformation. much 
pains  were  taken  for  this  purpofe;  and  in 
Great  Britain,  meafures  have  been  purfued 
to  accommodate  difierences  between  the 
conformifts  and  non-conformifts.  The  de- 
fire  of  brevity  will  not  allow  me  to  point 
out  the  particular  inftances.  The  nature 
of  the  church,  the  frequent  injunclions  of 
holy  writ,  and  the  benefits  refulting  from 
union,  all  confpire  to  fiiow  that  it  is  defir- 
able.  The  ufe  which  infidels  have  ever 
made  of  the  divifions  of  Chriflians,  loudly 
call  upon  us  to  rem.ove  this  great  of- 
fence. 

2.  Union  is  praflicable.  It  is  not  prac- 
ticable in  fome  circumllances,  and  the  hin- 
derances  of  it  have  been  mentioned;  but 
thefe  are  now  removed  in  this  country,  ex- 
cepting our  own  prejudices  and  imaginary 
interefls.  It  is  tertainly  prafticable^  bccaufe 


APPENDIX.  185 

it  has  been  efFefted  between  different  deno- 
minations, and  exifts  at  this  very  day. 

3.  I  SHALL  anfwer  the  queftion,  How- 
far  union  ought  to  extend,  or  what  ought  to 
be  the  precife  form  of  it,  by  dating*  the 
plans  which  have  been  already  adopted. 

Before  I  mention  what  has  been  done 
in  this  country,  let  me  mention  the  unity 
which  is  preferved  between  the  Dutch  and 
Walloon  churches  in  Holland.  On  account 
of  a  difference  of  language,  the  national 
fynod  of  Dort  determined  in  Art.  51.  "  that 
"  the  Dutch  and  Walloon  churches  fhall  have 
"  their  diftinft  confiftories,  claffical  affem- 
blies,  and  particular  fynods."  Art.  52,  runs 
thus;  ".  It  is  notwithltanding  judged  proper 
'' thatin  thofe  cities  where  the  abovemen- 
^•'  tioned  Walloon  churches  slyc,  fome  minifters 
'-'and  elders  of  both  defcriptions  fhould 
*'  affemble  together  monthly,  in  order  to 
''  preferve  unity,  and  mutual  good  corref- 
''  pondence,  and  as  much  as  poffible,  ac- 
"'  cording  to  circumftances,  with  counfel  to 


i86  A  P  P  E  N  D  I  X. 

"  aflTifl  each  other."  Here  we  fee  churches 
having  dillinft  judicatories,  maintaining  a 
general  bond  of  union ;  feme  from  both 
affembhng  together  at  ftated  times,  for  the 
exprefs  purpoie  of  "  preferving  unity/'  and 
*•'  with  counfel  to  affift  each  other."  The 
famous  Anod  oF  Dort  thought  union  de- 
firable,  and  they  have  given  us,  in  this  cafe, 
a  wife  and  practicable  plan  ;  have  fliown  us 
that  churches  may  be  connefted  and  enjoy 
a  friendly  correfpondence,  while  in  other 
refpetts  they  remain  entirely  diflinci. 
Thofe  who  w^ouldimprefs  on  our  minds  the 
idea,  that  to  form  an  union  it  is  necefiary  to 
blend  or  mix  the  denominations  together, 
either  do  not  underfiand  the  thing,  or  waih 
lo  miileadthe  unwary. 

Ik  this  country,  an  union  of  the  AiTociate 
and  Reformed  Prefbyteries  took  place  in 
the  year  1781.  The  difference  between 
thefe  denominations  v.as  very  inconfider- 
able,  and  they  formed  a  perfeft  union  un~ 
dcr  the  name  of  "  The  Aifociate  Reformed 
'•  Svnod;'    Reaf:3nable  as  this   union   was. 


APPENDIX.  187 

there  were  a  few  who  would  not  unite,  but 
formed  themfelves  into  a  feparate  fociety, 
and  have  fince  imported  an  acceffion  from 
abroad.  At  the  head  of  this  fchifm^  as  is 
frequently  the  cafe,  were  fome  minifters,  I 
think  two,  v/ho  are  induftrious  in  making 
profelytes,  and  confole  themfelves  with  the 
notion  of  keeping  faith  alive  on  the  earth. 

The  union  between  the  Affociate  Reform- 
ed, the  Dutch  Reformed,  and  the  Prefbyterian 
Synods,  began  in  the  year  1 785.  The  bond  of 
union,  was  a  convention,  c6n(ifting  of  dele- 
gates from  each  of  the  churches,  to  meet  once 
every  two  years.  This  convenlion  poffefTed 
only  the  power  of  counfel  and  advice.  Hav- 
ing met  once  every  year  until  the  year  1790, 
thd  convention  has  been  from  that  time  dif- 
continued.  Here  again,  we  find  three  de- 
nominations judging  a  brotherly  correfpon- 
dence  to  be  defirable,  and  adopting  a  plan 
for  its  execution.  Though  it  has  been  fuf- 
pended,  yet  there  is  no  reafon  to  believe  that 
union  was  impracticable,  or  that  fome  bet- 
ter plan  might  not  have  been  devifed.   The 


i88  APPENDIX. 

three  churches  are  fo  nearly  alike  in  doc- 
trine and  form  of  church-government,  that 
there  is  nothing  external  to  hinder  the  bell 
underftanding,  and  the  moft  friendly  cor- 
refpondence  between  them. 

Much  more  fuccefsful  has  been  the  ac- 
commodation of  a  greater  difference  be- 
tween the  Preibyterian  church  and  the  Con- 
gregational churches  in  New  England.  The 
clergy  of  thefe  formerly  held  an  annual  con- 
vention, which  was  interrupted  by  the  con- 
fufions  of  the  war.  It  appears  by  the  printed 
extracts  from  the  minutes  of  the  General  Af- 
fembly  of  thePrefby  terian  church^that  in  1 790 
they  expreffed a'' peculiar  dehre  to  renew  and 
*'  flrengthen  every  bond  of  union  between 
««  brethren  fo  nearly  agreed  in  doftrine  and 
''  forms  of  worfiiip  as  the  members  of  the 
*'  congregational  and  prefbyterian  churches 
''  evidently  are,"  and  refolved  to  invite  the 
congregational  churches  to  renew  their  cor- 
refpondence.  The  Afiembly  farther  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  take  the  moft  cf- 
feaual  meafures  for  obtaining  the  propofed 


APPENDIX.  189 

obje6t.  In  1791,  this  Committee  reported 
progrefs,  and  *'  propofed  three  modes  of 
^'  correfpondence  for  confideration,  viz. 
"  ift.  By  letter  from  a  committee  of  thi^ 
^'  body,  with  a  committee  of  the  gene- 
*'  ral  affociation  of  Connefticut.  2d.  By  re- 
^^  viving  a  convention  fimilar  to  one  which 
"  fubfifted  between  thofe  bodies  before  the 
*^  late  war.  3d.  By  fending  delegates  reci- 
'^  procally  from  each  body,  who  Ihall  fit  in 
*^  their  refpe61ive  meetings."  Another  com- 
mittee was  then  appointed  to  confuk  with 
minillers  from  the  New  England  churches, 
"  and  to  determine  on  fuch  plan  of  cor- 
"  refpondence  and  intercourfe  as  (hall  ap- 
*^  pear  eligible."  In  the  mean  time,  this 
meafure  was  laid  before  the  General  Aflb- 
ciation  of  Connefticut,  that  they  might  be  ' 
prepared  to  meet  with  the  Committee.  In 
1792,  the  plan  agreed  upon  in  a  convention 
of  the  two  bodies,  was  reported  and  adopt- 
^  ed,  the  printed  extraft  of  wjiich  is  as  fol- 
lows ; 

A  a 


190  APPENDIX. 

''  Considering  the  importance  of  union 
and  harmony,  in  the  Chriftian  church,  and 
the  duty  incumbent  on  all  its  paftors  and 
members  to  afFift  each  other,  in  promoting, 
as  far  as  poffible,  the  general  intereft  of  the 
Redeemer's  kingdom  ;  and  c.onfidering  fur- 
ther, that  divine  Providence  appears  to  be 
now  opening  the  door  for  purfuing  thefe 
valuable  objefts,  with  a  happy  profpeft  of 
fuccefs, 

"  This  convention  are  of  opinion,  that  it 
will  be  conducive  to  thefe  important  pur- 
pofes — 

*^  Th  A  T  dijlanding  committee  of  correfpond- 
ence,  be  appointed  in  each  body,  whofe  duty 
it  fliall  be,  by  frequent  letters,  to  communi- 
cate to  each  other,  ^\^hatever  may  be  mutual- 
ly ufeful  to  the  churches  under  their  care, 
and  to  the  general  intereft  of  the  Redeemer's 
kingdom. 

"  That  each  body  fliould,  from  time  to 
time,   appoint  a  committee,  confifting  of 


APPENDIX.  191 

three  members,  who  (hall  have  a  right  to  fit 
in  the  others  general  meeting,  and  make 
fuch  communications  as  fhall  be  direfted 
by  their  refpeftive  conftituents,  and  delibe- 
rate on  fuch  matters  as  (hall  come  before  the 
body;   but  fhall ^have  no  right  to  vote. 

•  "  That  effeftual  meafures  be  mutually 
taken  to  prevent  injuries  to  the  refpeftive 
churches,  from  irregular  and  unauthorifed 
preachers. 

"  To  promote  this  end,  the  convention 
judge  it  expedient,  that  every  preacher, 
travelling  from  the  limits  of  one  of  thefe 
churches  into  thofe  of  the  other,  fhall  be 
furniflied  with  recent  tejtimonials,  of  his  re- 
gular flanding  and  good  charafter  as  a 
preacher,  figned  by  the  moderator  of  the 
Proibytery,  or  afibciation,  in  which  he  re- 
ceived his  licenfe,  or,  if  a  minifler,  of  his 
good  flanding  and  charafter  as  fuch,  from 
the  moderator  of  the  Prefbytery,  or  alfo- 
ciation  where  he  laft  refided,  and  that  he 
fiiall,    previoully  to    his    travelling    as    a 


igs  APPENDIX. 

preacher  into  diftant  parts,  further  receive 
a  recommendation,  from  one  member,  at 
leaft  of  a  {landing  committee  to  be  hereafter 
appointed  by  each  body,  certifying  his  good 
qualifications  as  a  preacher. 

"  Also,  that  the  names  of  this  ftanding 
Coramittee  (liall  be  mutually  communicated; 
and  alfo  that  every  preacher  travelling,  and 
recommended  as  above,  and  fubmitting  to 
the  flated  rules  of  the  refpeclive  churches, 
fhall  be  received  as  an  authorifed  preacher 
ofthegofpel,  and  cheerfully  taken  under 
the  patronage  of  the  prePoytery,  or  afTocia- 
tion,  within  whofe  limits  he  fhall  find  em- 
ployment as  a  preacher  :  And, 

"That  the  proceedings  of  the  refpeftive 
bodies  on  this  report,  be  communicated  to 
our  brethren  of  the  congregational  and  pi-ef- 
byterian  churches  throughout  the  dates." 

These  two  denominations  have  afted  on 
this  plan  until  the  prefent  year,  when  we 
find  this  amendment  propofed  on  the   part 


APPENDIX.  ig^ 

of  the  General  AfTembly  of  thePrefbyterian 
.church  :  *^  On  motion,  ordered,  that  the 
*'  delegates  appointed  from  the  General  Af- 
"  fembly  to  the  General  AfTociationof  Con- 
*'  nefticut  propofe  to  the  AfTociation,  as  an 
"  amendment  to  the  articles  of  intercourfe 
"  agreed  upon  between  the  aforefaid  bodies, 
'^  that  the  delegates  from  thefe  bodies,  re- 
"  fpeftively,  fhall  have  a  right,  not  only  to 
''  fit  and  deliberate,  but  alfo  to  vote,  in  all 
"  queftions  which  fhall  be  determined  by 
*^  either  of  them."  This  amendment,  I  am 
informed,  has  been  cheerfully  agreed  to,  on 
the  part  of  the  General  Affociation  of  Con- 
nefticut. 

Here  then  is  another  plan  of  union;  one 
which  appears  to  have  been  digefted  with 
great  care,  bears  evident  marks  of  wifdom, 
and  is  found  happy  in  its  operation.  Du- 
ring the  whole  negociation,  no  fecrecy  is 
obferved,  but  their  tranfaftions  are  publifli- 
ed  to  the  people,  that  they  might  know  and 
judge.  The  greateft  care  is  taken  to  pre- 
vent the  introduftion  of  irregular  preachers^ 


194  APPENDIX. 

and  the  tv/o  denominations  repofe  fuch  con-* 
fidence  in  each  other,  ttet  minifiers  duly  re- 
commended, are  refpeftively  received  into 
their  pulpits.  There  appears  no  fufpicion, 
that  bane  of  friendfhip ;  no  faying,  Stand  by 
thyfelf,  come  not  near  to  me,  for  I  am  holier 
than  thou.  They  feem  to  have  remembered 
what  the  Apoflle  John  has  faid  concerning 
a  certain  Diotrephes;  /  xorote  unto  the 
church :  but  Diotrephes,  teho  loveth  to  have 
the  pre-eminence  among  them,  receivethus  not. 
Wherefore  if  I  come,  I  will  remember  his  deeds 
zvhich  he  doeth,  prating  againfl  us  with 
malicious  words.  The  minifters  receiving 
one  another  refpeftively  into  their  pulpits, 
and  the  delegates  having  a  right  refpeftive- 
ly  to  vote  in  the  judicatories,  will  draw  the 
bands  of  love  clofe,  and  the  union  promifes  to 
be  beneficial  and  lalling.  It  is  in  vain  to  fay, 
that  we  are  united  in  love,  when  we  have  no 
confidence  in  one  another;  and  no  man 
will  be  long  pleafed  in  attending  a  judica- 
tory, when  he  has  no  fhare  in  managing  the 
bufinefs. 


APPENDIX.  i(>5 

Perhaps  the  above  plan  is  what  fiiould 
have  been  adopted  by  the  Dutch  Reformed, 
the  Aflbciate   Reformed,   and   the   Prefby- 
terian  Synods.     Their  union   has  hitherto 
failed,  becaufe  they  have  not  come  near 
enough.     Let  me  repeat,  that  a  blending  or 
mixing  of  the  denominations  is   not  necef- 
fary  ;  but  furely,  if  we  love  one  another,  if 
we  be  agreed,  we  ought  to  teftify  it  in  fome 
proper  manner.     A  convention  was  only  a 
previous  ftep,   and   no   other  fteps  being 
taken,  it    naturally  ceafed.       Why  fhould 
Chriflians  come  together,  unlefs  to  promote 
harmony  and  fellowfhip  ?  If  they  meet  only 
to  tell  their  mutual  jealoufies,  and  to  con- 
tend  for  matters  of  feparation,   they  Vv^ill 
part  worfe  friends  than  when  they  met.   Let 
me  fay  once  for  all,  that  the  difference   be- 
tween thefe  denominations  is  fo  trifling,  or 
rather   it  is   nothing,  that  they  may,  and 
ought  to  unite  in  fome  general  bond ;  while 
each  denomination  may  remain  diftinft,  and 
every  fociety  enjoy  the  labours  of  its  own 
minifters,   retain   its   eflate,   and  whatever 
privileges  and  peculiarities  belong  to  it.   Jf 


ig6  APPENDIX. 

fuch  an  union,  however,  be  efFefted,  it  muft 
be  on  a  different  plan  from  what  has  yet 
been  attempted.  It  mufl  be  on  the  planlaft 
ftated;  for  it  is  the  greateft  abfurdity  to 
think  of  union,  while  men  will  hold  no 
Chriltian  and  minifterial  communion  with 
one  another.  It  is  but  juftice  to  fay,  that  the 
Prefbyterian  minifters,  whenever  oppor- 
tunity offers,  invite  the  Dutch  miniflers  in- 
to their  pulpits.  The  Author  has  repeated- 
ly preached  at  the  invitation  of  Prefbyterian 
miniflers  when  abroad,  and  has  been  earnefl- 
ly  invited  by  a  minifter  of  the  Affociate  Re- 
formed church ;  but  in  no  inflance  has  he 
thought  it  expedient  to  return  the  compli- 
ment, though  well  affured  that  the  miniflers 
ofthefe  perfuafionsare  as  orthodox  and  zea- 
lous as  thofe  of  his  own.  Where  is  brother- 
ly love?  Where  is  union  ?  Should  not  fome 
correfpondence  in  this  refpeft  be  efla- 
bliHied? 

I  SHALL  produce  now  an  inflance  of 
union  far  more  extenfive  than  any  v;hich 
has  been  mentioned ;  I  mean  "  The-  New- 


APPENDIX.  137 

York  Society  for  projiiotingChrlflian  know- 
ledge and  pieiy."  This  fociety  confifts  a.t 
prefent  of  not  lefs  than  feven  different  de- 
nominations, viz.  Epifcopalians,  Methodill- 
Epifcopalians,  Prelbyterians,  Dutch  Prefby- 
teri^ns,  Scotch  Prefbyterians,  Lutherans, 
and  Moravians.  According  to  the  confti- 
tution,  "  perfons,  of  all  Chriftian  denomi- 
*•  nations,  may  be  elefted  members."  It  may 
be  faid,  that  this  is  an  union  of  individuals 
and  not  of  churches.  But  are  not  churches 
compofed  of  individuals  ?  Are  not  heVe  per- 
fons of  various  fentiments  united  in  one 
body;  and  why  may  not  the  union  be  ex- 
tended? Befides,  the  fociety  may  be  called 
a  church.  The  meeting  is  opened  and 
clofed  with  prayer.  Th^  objeft  of  the  in- 
ftitution  is  "  to  diftribute  the  holy  fcriptures 
*'  and  other  religious  books  among  the 
'^poor;  to  alTifl  miffionaries  in  diffufing 
*'  gofpel  knowledge;'  &c.  Wherein  does 
the  objeft  of  a  church  differ  from  this  ?  And 
if  it.  does,  can\ve  fay,  that  perfons  may  form 
a  focial  union  to  promote  Chriftian  know- 

B  b 


198  A  P  P  E  N  D  I  X. 

ledge  and  piety  among  others,  and  not 
among  themfelves?  Is  not  here  a  joint  en- 
deavour to  "advance  the  interefts  of  the 
''  bleiTed  Redeemer's  kingdom?" 

It  is  likewife  remarkable,  that  the  mem- 
bers of  this  fociety  fabfcribe  what  is   equal 
to  a  confefTion  of  faith.     By  the  7th  Article 
of  the  conftitution,  they  are  "  to   procure 
"  and  difperfe  fuch  trafts  as  tend  to  incul- 
^'  cate  the  doctrine  of  the  facred  Trinity; 
''  the  depravity  and  condemnation  of  man- 
"  kind  by  original  and  aftual  fin  ;   their  re- 
**'  covery  by  the  m.eritorious  life,  fuffbrings, 
'"  and  death  of  the  adorable  Redeemer;  the 
^•'  fancliiication  of  the  foul  by  the  operations 
''  of  the  holy  Ghoft ;   the  bleffings  and  effi- 
"  cacv  of  the   facraments   of  the  Chriftian 
''  church;  the  necefTity  of  holinefs  of  heart 
*^  and   praflice;  the   certainty  of  a   future 
'' flate  of  eternal  hapoinefs  or  miferv,"  &c. 
Kere  is  a  good  confefhon,  and  proves  what  I 
have  aflerted,  that  the  generality  of  Chrif- 
tians  are  agreed  in  all  the  effential  articles 
of  faith ;   and  that  were   they   to  confine 


APPENDIX,  199 

themfelves  to  thefe,  and  not  unwarrantably 
extend  them,  a  foundation  for  union  would 
appear. 

I  WOULD  add  fomething  more,  I  would 
addrefs  bo,th  clergy  and  laity  on  the  fubje6l 
of  union,  but  this  Appendix  is  already  too 
long.  As  to  fome  denominations  which 
have  been  particularized,  it  is  my  unlhaken 
opinion,  that  they  ought  to  unite ;  and  I 
think  that  even  an  union  of  greater  extent  is 
delirable  and  pra8:icable  ;  yea,  that  it  will 
in  procefs  of  time  take  place.  A  general 
convention  might  be  propofed  and  the  at- 
tempt made.  Prejudices  and  interefts  may 
withftand  it  for  a  while,  but  they  mufl:  at  laft 
yield  to  reafon  and  truth.  I  have  deliver- 
ed my  fentiments  with  great  freedom  and 
fincerity.  They  may  not  efcape  animad- 
vferlions,  and  that  too  from  fome  with  whom 
I  fiiould  deem  it  an  unhappinefs  to  differ. 
I  have  no  party  purpofe,  no  worldly  intereft 
to  feek ;  but  having  believed,  I  have  there- 
fore fpoken.     Great  as  my  attachment  is  to 


200  APPENDIX. 

the  denomination  to  which  I  belong,  and 
ever  fludious  to  promote  their  fpiritual  be- 
ne^r,  I  confider  them  as  part  of  the  Catho- 
lic church,  and  all  the  faints  as  one  body  in 
Cknjl,  and  every  one  members  one  ofanother* 


T  PI  E      EN  r>. 


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